Department of Health and Social Care

Joint Biosecurity Centre

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the remit is of the new Joint Biosecurity Centre with reference to that Centre's relationship with (a) the devolved Administrations, (b) Government departments and (c) SAGE.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 02 June 2020



The Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) will need to work with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including Government Departments, the devolved administrations, and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, to carry out its functions. The United Kingdom Government will continue to engage with the devolved administrations to explore how the centre can operate most effectively across the UK and work is underway to ensure the right relationships are in place to enable the JBC to operate as effectively as possible.

Hospitals: Coronavirus

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to allow close family members to visit patients in hospital and not infected with covid-19.

Helen Whately: On 5 June 2020, NHS England revised its guidance on how National Health Service organisations may choose to facilitate visiting across healthcare inpatient settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The national suspension on visiting imposed under previous guidance was lifted with immediate effect.Visiting is now subject to local discretion by trusts and other NHS bodies. The number of visitors at the bedside is limited to one close family contact or somebody important to the patient. However, where it is possible to maintain social distancing throughout the visit, a second additional visitor can be permitted in certain circumstances including those individuals receiving end-of-life care.

Joint Biosecurity Centre

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the new Joint Biosecurity Centre will interact with Local Resilience Forms and Local Health Protection Boards.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 08 June 2020



The Joint Biosecurity Centre is aligned to the CONTAIN strand of the Government’s Test, Trace, Contain and Enable programme. The aim of CONTAIN is to prevent local outbreaks and, where not possible, to contain them locally to minimise the spread of the virus and avoid the need for escalation to a national lockdown.The JBC/CONTAIN’s regional teams will work closely with local authorities, Local Health Protection Teams and Local Resilience Forums in managing outbreaks of COVID-19 at a local level. Further information on how the JBC will link in with these organisations will be provided in the near future.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on covid-19 restrictions for care homes of the findings in the Statistical data set COVID-19: number of outbreaks in care homes – management information published on gov.uk on 28 May 2020 that 38 percent of care homes had cases of covid-19 between 20 March and 7 May 2020.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 08 June 2020



In the face of an unprecedented global pandemic, since the start of this pandemic we have been working closely with the sector and public health experts to put in place guidance and support for adult social care.We keep our policies under continuous review based on the emerging international and domestic evidence.In February, the first guidance for the sector was published; in March, we announced £1.6 billion funding for local government and £1.3 billion to go to the National Health Service and social care for discharge support; in April we announced a further £1.6 billion for local government and our detailed Adult Social Care Action Plan.

Hospices: Coronavirus

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report published by Public Health England on 2 June 2020 entitled Disparities in the risk and outcomes of covid-19, for what reasons there were no excess deaths in hospices compared with in care homes between 20 March 2020 to 7 May 2020.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 08 June 2020



There were 20,457 excess deaths in care homes between 20 March 2020 and 7 May 2020.This is stated within the report on page 59 in the text:“Overall the model suggests that there have been 20,457 excess deaths in care homes between 20 March and 7 May 2020 and 16,016 in hospitals. The care home finding is consistent with the finding reported in section 1, that 75% of excess deaths are in people aged 75 and over. It is not possible to say whether these excess deaths in care homes have been concentrated in a few with outbreaks or distributed among many. There have been no excess deaths in hospices.”

Coronavirus: Air Pollution

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits for people's health of the reduction in air pollution during the covid-19 lockdown.

Jo Churchill: Holding answer received on 10 June 2020



The implementation of social distancing measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 has resulted in short-term reductions in the measured concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM). When these measures are eased, PM and NO2 levels are likely to return to pre- epidemic levels. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Public Health England and the Office for National Statistics are working together to assess whether there is evidence of an association between exposure to particulates and COVID-19 mortality in the United Kingdom. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ independent Air Quality Expert Group launched a call for evidence to help with assessing the impact of the pandemic, and a summary report will be produced.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason Public Health England will not assist in the testing of symptomatic care home residents until a (a) case or (b) outbreak of covid-19 is suspected.

Helen Whately: Every care home in England can access whole home testing, regardless of whether residents have symptoms. This testing can be arranged through the Department’s online testing portal at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-care-homeResponsibility for whole home testing lies with the Department.Public Health England (PHE) is responsible for the testing of symptomatic residents at the point a case or an outbreak is first suspected in a care home. When a PHE local Health Protection Team is notified of a suspected resident case or outbreak of COVID-19 in a care home, they will undertake a risk assessment, offer public health advice (including infection prevention and control advice) and, where appropriate, arrange for testing to be done for all symptomatic residents at the time of reporting. The risk assessment is undertaken to ensure that the symptoms being reported are consistent with COVID-19 infection.

NHS: Mental Health

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to assess the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the mental health of NHS staff.

Helen Whately: The Government takes the health and wellbeing of National Health Service staff very seriously. At the beginning of the COVID-19 response, the Department commissioned NHS England and NHS Improvement to develop a comprehensive package of emotional, psychological, and practical support for all NHS staff. NHS England and NHS Improvement launched the support package on 8 April 2020 which can be accessed via the following link:people.nhs.uk/help/Development of the support package has been informed by both the experiences of NHS staff contacting the national telephone and text service, as well as expert advice and research into mental health needs following major incidents. The support package will continue to be updated by listening to feedback from NHS staff who use the services, including how COVID-19 response has affected them.

Exercise Cygnus: Health and Social Services

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Exercise Cygnus that took place in 2016, whether an assessment was made of the potential effect of a pandemic on the mental health of (a) health and (b) care workers.

Helen Whately: Whilst the scope of Exercise Cygnus did not cover the effect of a pandemic on the mental health of health and social care workers specifically, staff wellbeing is a core part of United Kingdom pandemic preparedness planning. This includes strengthening the health and social care sector to surge and flex beyond normal operations, as demonstrated by the considerable increase in capacity and capabilities to respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic.The wellbeing of health and social care staff has been central to the COVID-19 response, and the Government has implemented several measures to support staff, including a dedicated helpline and free access to several wellbeing apps for National Health Service and social care workers, and a CARE app which provides advice and wellbeing support to social care staff.

Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund

Sir Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will amend the guidance for allowable expenses under the Infection Control Fund to include the purchase of (a) specialist infection control equipment and (b) specialist infection control services from contractors.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 15 June 2020



On 15 May we published details of an additional £600 million Infection Control Fund for Adult Social Care. This funding is to support adult social care providers in England reduce the rate of transmission in and between care homes and to support workforce resilience. A small percentage of it may be used to support domiciliary care providers and support wider workforce resilience to deal with COVID-19 infections.Given the evidence of the prevalence of asymptomatic transmission, Public Health England strongly recommends that care homes do all they can to restrict staff movement wherever feasible. The specific purpose of this fund is to support the implementation of a new set of measures, identified in the Care Home Support Package published alongside the fund. This includes measures such as ensuring, as far as possible, that members of staff work in only one care home and helping to limit their use of public transport – steps that we believe not all providers would ordinarily be taking without specific support.We published further information on the use of this funding on 9 June. This can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-infection-control-fund/about-the-adult-social-care-infection-control-fundThe Government has already provided local government with £3.2 billion of unringfenced additional funding to help deal with the pandemic and has committed to keeping future funding under review.

Asthma: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the access of severe asthma patients to (a) specialist care in severe asthma centres and (b) biologic therapies.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 16 June 2020



Specialist respiratory services for severe asthma have continued during the COVID-19 outbreak; in most cases people with severe asthma have been able to receive their biologic medication at home instead of having to attend hospital. Given the pivotal role of respiratory medicine in treating patients with COVID-19, it is likely that the ability of some centres to commence patients on biologics may have been impacted at the peak of the surge.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence COVID-19 rapid guideline on severe asthma provides guidance on starting or continuing on biological treatments, for people with severe asthma during the COVID-19 outbreak. The guideline is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng166

Asthma: Medical Treatments

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients began biologic therapies for severe asthma in each month in 2020; and how many patients in total were prescribed biologic therapies for severe asthma in each of those months.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 16 June 2020



The following table shows the number of patients with severe asthma each month where biologic drug costs have been reimbursed to centres providing severe asthma services..January 2020February 2020March 2020Total patients4,9064,7324,444New Starters1529163

Health Services: Labour Turnover

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to retain healthcare staff who returned to provide additional capacity during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The Government is grateful for the positive response from the large numbers of former healthcare staff who came forward in response to the COVID-19 emergency. We are working closely with key stakeholders including NHS England and NHS Improvement and local employers to ensure that the opportunities for employment are maximised for those who wish to continue working.

Supported Housing: Coronavirus

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to extend covid-19 testing for all eligible care homes to residents in supported living settings.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 18 June 2020



Further expansion of testing to other adult social care settings will be guided by clinical advice on relative priority and available testing capacity.We are listening to views about how different groups may be affected by the virus and are continuing to explore how we can support other parts of the sector such as those in supported living settings.We have significantly increased testing capacity so everyone with symptoms of COVID-19 can be tested. Anyone with suspected symptoms in these settings can also access testing by self-refer via the following link:www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test

Aviation: Coronavirus

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2020 to Question 53422 on Aviation: Coronavirus, to which NHS hospitals were sick passengers identified by cabin crew transferred or further assessment and covid-19 testing between 22 January 2020 and 12 March 2020; and how many passengers were transferred to each of those NHS hospitals.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Social Distancing

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the level of public observance of the two metre guidance on social distancing; and what estimate he has made of the potential level of observance of social distancing guidance if that guidance is reduced to one metre.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the covid-19 diagnostic antibody tests being (a) evaluated and (b) supported by the Government contain animal-derived antibodies.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the process is for care home staff to access the covid-19 anti-body tests which were due to be rolled out in England from the end of May 2020.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that essential workers who visit the homes of people who are shielding from covid-19 (a) have access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and (b) wear PPE during those visits.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Hong Kong

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of expert engineers in containing the covid-19 pandemic in Hong Kong; if he will extend an invitation to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers to join the expert team conducting the Government’s review of the two-metre social distancing rule; and what further steps he plans to take to ensure that evidence from highly skilled engineering sources is obtained and evaluated by the review team.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Coronavirus

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the need for the provision of increased mental health support to (a) nurses, (b) doctors and (c) other NHS staff (i) during and (ii) after the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health and Social Services: Protective Clothing

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of reports that health and social care workers are being asked to reuse single-use personal protective equipment during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Diabetes: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the vulnerability of people with diabetes to covid-19.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the methodology used by NICE to appraise combination therapies in the ongoing NICE Methods Review.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asthma: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, until what date the recommendations in the NICE COVID-19 rapid guideline: severe asthma will remain in place.

Helen Whately: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is unable to confirm a date on which the recommendations in the COVID-19 rapid guideline on severe asthma [NG166] will cease to be in place at this time.COVID-19 rapid guidelines, and their individual recommendations, will be kept under review and may be considered for withdrawal:- If the guideline or recommendations are no longer needed or become redundant/obsolete because service delivery has changed (e.g. normal services have resumed), or the recommendations are likely to have limited relevance for the service beyond the timeframe of the current crisis;- If there are safety issues, for example, the recommendations may harm patients, service users or health and social care practitioners; and- To remove duplication of recommendations if guideline content or certain recommendations within the COVID-19 suite are merged.

Influenza: Vaccination

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding the flu vaccination programme to help prepare for a potential second wave of covid-19; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish a substantive Answer to Named Day Question 49568 on Diabetes: Coronavirus and Named Day Question 49569 on Coronavirus: Screening that were tabled on 20 May 2020 and were due for Answer on 2 June 2020.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS Trusts: Training

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what role his Department has in ensuring there is adequate mental health training for staff across all NHS trusts.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Mental Health

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to tackle the effect of NHS staffing shortages on the mental health of (a) student nurses and (b) NHS staff.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Protective Clothing: Turkey

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2020 to Question 46094 on Protective Clothing: Turkey, how many items were (a) suitable for use or (b) rejected as unsuitable for use from that shipment.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Services

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the social care White Paper will be published; and if it will include policies related to the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The Government’s number one priority for adult social care is for everyone who relies on care to get the care they need throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.There are complex questions to address in considering the future of social care, which is why we have invited cross-party talks. These talks will take place at the earliest opportunity given the current circumstances.We do not want to pre-empt the outcome of any cross-party talks. However, we are committed to bringing forward a plan for social care to ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect and to find long term solutions for one of the biggest challenges we face as a society.

General Practitioners: Postnatal Care

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the six-week post-natal health checks for new mothers at GPs surgeries.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Postnatal Care: Coronavirus

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assesssment his Department has made of the effect of covid-19 outbreak on the (a) physical health, (b) mental health, and (c) safety of new mothers.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Postnatal Care

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will issue guidance to GPs on resuming face-to-face six week post-natal health checks for new mothers.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what methodology his Department is using to collate data on sex, race/ethnicity and socio-economic background with regard to people (a) testing positive for covid-19 and (b) dying from covid-19.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Demonstrations

Sir Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he will amend the Health protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations (England) 2020 to clarify that peaceful demonstrations constitute a reasonable excuse for a gathering; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to roll out antibody testing to all key workers; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Procurement

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has amended its NHS procurement practices as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: The Department has not amended National Health Service procurement practices. Guidance on how contracting authorities should respond to COVID-19 was published on 18 March at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0120-responding-to-covid-19

Department of Health and Social Care: Care Badge Community Interest Company

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the Government paid to transfer the CARE badge brand rights from the CARE Badge Community Interest Company to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

Helen Whately: The CARE Badge Community Interest Company transferred the brand rights for the CARE logo to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care free of charge.When this transfer took place, the Government purchased the remaining stock of badges held by the previous brand owner. As of 19 June, 15,000 of these badges, or about 95% of the amount purchased from the previous rights holder, have been distributed at no cost to social care providers or members of the workforce.Additional badges have been procured and we expect to be able to start delivery of these badges in July. Details of how they will be distributed to people working in social care who want to wear this badge with pride will be available in due course.

Department of Health and Social Care: Badges

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many CARE badges have been (a) produced and (b) distributed by his Department since the transfer of the CARE badge brand rights to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Pregnancy: Prescriptions

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to extend the validity of NHS maternity exemption certificates.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what contingency steps his Department is taking to ensure an adequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment in the event of a second wave of infections of covid-19.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Services: Immigrants

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when a timetable for removing the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS and care workers will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS Supply Chain: Runcorn

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reasons the proposed visit on 25 March 2020 by the Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care to the Runcorn Regional NHS Distribution Centre was cancelled.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of asking UK nationals to be tested for covid-19 before undertaking international travel.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Recruitment

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many retired NHS (a) doctors and (b) nurses returned to work during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the Government will endorse a covid-19 symptom study app similar to those endorsed by the Scottish and Welsh governments.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the validity of reports that the NHS track and trace app will not work in (a) Croydon, (b) London and (c) other densely populated areas.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nurses: Students

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for student nurses whose final year unpaid placements are due to end in relation to (a) early qualification and (b) extended placements as a result of covid-19.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department of Health and Social Care: Renewable Energy

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) solar panels and (b) wind turbines his Department's buildings (a) have in 2020 and (b) had in each of the last five years.

Edward Argar: The Department has not had any buildings with wind turbines or solar panels in the last five years.

Care Homes: Protective Clothing

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2020 to Question 52266, on Care Homes: Protective Clothing, if his Department will list the designated wholesalers for onward sale to social care providers.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) extent and (b) terms of Zühlke Engineering’s involvement has been in the management and development of the NHS covid-19 contact tracing app; and whether staff of Zühlke Engineering based outside of the UK will be able to access data from that app.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Lung Diseases: Health Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people with (a) asthma, (b) COPD and (c) other lung conditions (i) receive timely diagnoses and (b) access emergency and routine care during the covid-19 lockdown.

Helen Whately: Specialist respiratory services for severe asthma, along with urgent and emergency treatment for other serious complaints, have continued throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. In most cases people with severe asthma have been able to receive their medication at home instead of having to attend hospital.Whilst routine treatments were suspended to provide capacity to treat COVID-19 patients, we are now working closely with the National Health Service and other partners to restart these in a safe way, with excellence in infection prevention and control as a key principle. Guidance has already been issued on this, and approaches are being tailored at local level according to local capacity and local demand, with the most urgent services being restarted first.

Nurses: Students

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many student nurses in (a) Yorkshire and Humber and (b) the UK were given paid placements in the NHS as part of recruitment measures to address the covid-19 crisis; and what proportion of those placements will end on or before 31 July 2020.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nurses: Students

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, prior to student nurses taking paid placements in the NHS as part of the recruitment measures to address the covid-19 outbreak what information was provided on the terms and conditions of those placements; and what end date was included in that information.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nurses: Students

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions has he had with (a) his Ministers, (b) trade unions and (c) NHS managers on the termination of student nurses’ paid placements in the NHS on 31 July 2020.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Prime Minister

Overseas Aid: Select Committees

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Prime Minister, whether he has provided instructions to the Leader of the House to amend the Standing Orders to create a Development Aid Oversight Committee similar to the Environmental Audit Committee to ensure Parliamentary oversight of UK aid spending.

Boris Johnson: I refer the hon Member to the answer my Rt Hon Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the hon Member for North East Fife on 18 June, Official Report, Col 947.

Official Meetings: Prime Minister

Steve Reed: To ask the Prime Minister, how many times and on what dates he has met with Richard Desmond since he became Prime Minister.

Boris Johnson: Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk.

Department for Work and Pensions

Offshore Industry: Coronavirus

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the provision of covid-19 guidance in the workplace for (a) employers and (b) staff in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Mims Davies: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a contributing member of the Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) Pandemic Steering Group (PSG), which also includes members from OGUK, helicopter operators, oil and gas companies, industry associations, medical professionals, Step Change in Safety (SCiS), Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and trade unions, including Unite and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. The PSG has developed and published a range of guidance for offshore oil and gas companies on measures required to manage the risks of COVID-19 infection. The PSG has also produced guidance specifically for the offshore workforce on the measures oil and gas companies should have in place to manage the risks of COVID-19 offshore: https://oilandgasuk.co.uk/covid-19/ and https://www.stepchangeinsafety.net/workgroups/covid-19/. HSE has also supported the PSG in formulating Scottish Government sector guidance which supports working safely offshore during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/web-resources-container/guidance-for-prevention-and-management-of-cases-of-covid-19-on-offshore-installations/.

Offshore Industry: Coronavirus

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and (b) Scottish Government on the (i) provision and (ii) uptake of public covid-19 test facilities for offshore oil and gas workers.

Mims Davies: The Secretary of State and I engage with a wide variety of stakeholders on a regular basis.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) supports the testing of offshore workers to identify and manage the risks from COVID-19. HSE has given its full support to the Oil and Gas UK (OGUK) Pandemic Steering Group (PSG) to help deliver testing for all offshore workers. HSE is in regular communication with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to further support the availability of testing for all offshore workers, including those who are asymptomatic.

Universal Credit: Coronavirus

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether British citizens stranded abroad during the covid-19 outbreak who would be eligible to receive universal credit in the UK can apply for universal credit from abroad.

Justin Tomlinson: As with most benefits, one of the basic rules of entitlement to UK benefits, including Universal Credit, is that a claimant must be resident in the UK at the time of application and satisfy other qualifying conditions. We have no plans to change this.

Universal Credit: Coronavirus

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a British citizen returned to the UK after more than one month stranded abroad can be entitled to receive universal credit extended beyond the one month limit to include the period that person was unable to claim the benefit because they were not in-country.

Justin Tomlinson: Universal Credit claims may be backdated by up to one calendar month in only certain circumstances for vulnerable claimants, who may be delayed in claiming Universal Credit through no fault of their own. Claims may also be backdated in specific circumstances when a couple separates, to ensure that there is no gap in entitlement between the couple claim and the new claim made by a single claimant. FCO consular staff continue to provide advice and support to British nationals who face financial difficulties overseas due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Those in real financial distress whilst stranded overseas can seek advice and support from their local consular team, who will be able to advise on any local support that may be available as well as facilitate contact with friends and families who may be able to help. The FCO are also working with Non-Governmental Organisations to facilitate support to British nationals in need, including accommodation, food and medicine. If a British national cannot afford travel costs back to the UK or essential living costs while they are waiting to return and have exhausted all other options they may be eligible to apply for an emergency loan from the government. These loans are interest free. This is a last resort option, with repayment required in full. However, the FCO would work with those British nationals’ currently stranded overseas to ensure flexible repayment plans are in place if they cannot afford to repay the loan within six months.

Department for Work and Pensions: Written Questions

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to answer Questions 55997, 55998 and 55999 tabled on 8 June 2020 by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough.

Mims Davies: I apologise for the delay and refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 June 2020 to questions 55997, 55998 and 55999.

Universal Credit: Immigrants

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a UK citizen who is married to a person with leave to remain in the UK but has no recourse to public funds is permitted to claim universal credit; and if she will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: Where only one member of a couple is eligible for UC (for example the other adult in the couple is subject to immigration control) then that ineligible person’s circumstances will not be brought to bear in calculating how much the maximum amount of UC payable is. Their capital, income and earnings will, however, be taken into account in adjusting the actual UC award. The term ‘assessment unit’ is used to capture both members of a couple where one adult is not eligible for UC. Non-UK nationals and family members who are issued with a residence permit with a NRPF condition are not eligible to access taxpayer-funded benefits such as Universal Credit, Child Benefit or housing assistance for the duration of their leave. Contributions-based benefits and the State Pension are not classed as public funds. DWP has no powers to award taxpayer-funded benefits to an individual whose Home Office immigration status specifies no recourse to public funds. DWP decision makers undertake rigorous training and are expected to offer a high standard of support to help people identify the evidence they need to provide as part of their application for income-based benefits.

Thriving at Work Leadership Council

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on which dates the Thriving at Work Leadership Council met since its inaugural meeting on 17 January 2019; and on which of those meetings that Council discussed mental health at work during the covid-19 outbreak.

Justin Tomlinson: Since its inaugural meeting on 17 January 2019, The Thriving at Work Leadership Council has met on the 24th April 2019, 24th June 2019 and 28th January 2020.The next meeting is to be held on 26th June 2020 which will discuss Mental Health at Work during COVID-19.

Social Security Benefits

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her Department's policy to extend the temporary suspension of reviews and reassessments for all benefits beyond 24 June 2020.

Justin Tomlinson: Our priority throughout this health emergency continues to be to protect the public and staff, while ensuring people get the benefits they are entitled to quickly and safely. Reviews and reassessments remain suspended while we review what activity we can gradually start reintroducing in line with the latest public health advice.

Universal Credit

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what costing model her Department uses to estimate the annual cost of converting the universal credit advance loan to a grant.

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the cost estimated by her Department for turning the universal credit advance loan to a grant is predicated on the grant being made on the claimant having qualified for universal credit.

Will Quince: The Department uses internal advances modelling which is based on inputs from the Department’s INFORM and Policy Simulation Models. Costs estimated only include claimants who are deemed eligible for payment.

Employment: Contact Tracing

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to support people who earn less than the Lower Earnings Limit who are required to stop work to self-isolate under the covid-19 test and trace system.

Will Quince: Those who are not already in receipt of benefits may be able to claim Universal Credit and/or new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending on their personal circumstances, to support them when they are unable to work.

Unemployment: Slough

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the rate of unemployment over the last three months in Slough constituency.

Mims Davies: Estimates of the number of people who are unemployed for sub-regional geographies in the UK are compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This is done using the Annual Population Survey (APS), a large household survey of people in the UK. Estimates are based on a sample of cases and therefore subject to sampling uncertainty. The latest available data covers the period January – December 2019. The ONS’s central estimate is that the unemployment rate for those aged 16 or over in Slough constituency is 4.0% (with the true rate lying somewhere between 2.5% - 5.5%). The next update is scheduled for 16 July 2020 when data for the April 2019 - March 2020 survey period will be released on the NOMIS website. (https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/) The DWP publishes, via its Stat Xplore website, official statistics on the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits by parliamentary constituency area (the ‘Alternative Claimant Count’), which are more timely. In February 2020, there were 3,216 people claiming unemployment-related benefits in Slough. This equates to 3.5% of the working age population. Updated Alternative Claimant Count figures up to May 2020 will be published at 9:30am on Thursday 16th July.

Unemployment: Slough

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to reduce the level of unemployment in the Slough constituency as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Home Office

Home Office: Carers

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff in her Department had caring responsibilities in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The following numbers of Home Office staff have declared they had caring responsibilities in each of the last four years. No data is held for the period ending 31 Mar 16. 31-Mar-2031-Mar-1931-Mar-1831-Mar-1710,2729,9149,4019,256

Asylum

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of enabling people to apply for asylum at Regional Intake Units.

Chris Philp: We take the wellbeing of asylum seekers extremely seriously. As part of our response to COVID-19, we have introduced regional intake units to allow asylum claims to be registered in a safe way that adheres to social distancing guidance and minimises travel. The introduction of the regional intake units in Glasgow, Belfast, Liverpool, Leeds, Solihull and Cardiff, is a temporary measure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and these changes do not represent a new operating model. These are contingency measures put in place to allow asylum claims to be registered in a safe manner and ensure those that are at immediate risk of destitution can access support.

Asylum: Housing

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department,  if she will make it her policy to end enforced room sharing between non-related persons in asylum support accommodation.

Chris Philp: Room sharing take place in a number of sectors and is not limited to supported asylum seekers. There asylum accommodation contracts set out clearly when room sharing can take place and the numbers of people sharing rooms is minimal. There are currently no plans to end room sharing for unrelated asylum seeking adults.

Visas: British National (Overseas)

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the extension from six months to 12 months of the rights of BN(O) passport holders to work in the UK in the event that China imposes its national security law on Hong Kong will be conditional on having a sponsor and a job offer that meets a minimum-salary threshold.

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under the terms of the Government's offer to extend the rights of BN(O) passport holders to work in the UK from six months to 12 months should China's national security law be imposed on Hong Kong, for how long will BN(O) passport holders need to be resident in the UK before they can apply for citizenship.

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the extension from six months to 12 months of the rights of BN(O) passport holders to work in the UK in the event that China imposes its national security law on Hong Kong, if she will confirm whether people wishing to apply for British citizenship will not be deported back to Hong Kong when their 12 months comes to an end.

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the offer to extend the rights of BN(O) passport holders to work in the UK from six months to 12 months should China's national security law be imposed on Hong Kong, whether people wishing to apply for British citizenship will be allowed to remain in the UK for as long as it takes for them to qualify for citizenship rights, and for their applications to be processed.

Kevin Foster: The UK will continue to defend the rights & freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. Should China push ahead and impose national security legislation on Hong Kong then we will provide a generous offer to BN(O)s of a bespoke immigration route providing unrestricted access to work and study with a pathway to apply for citizenship. We are working closely with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and domestic departments on the offer to British Nationals (Overseas) and will set out more detail in due course.

Retail Trade: Abuse and Violence

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date she plans to publish the call for evidence on violence and abuse toward shop staff.

Kit Malthouse: During the Westminster Hall debate on 11 February, I committed to publish the Government response to the call for evidence on violence and abuse towards shopworkers by the end of March 2020. Unfortunately, given the current circumstances, the Government must focus its communications on tackling Covid-19. Therefore, the publication of the Government response is delayed. I am, however, keen to publish it as soon as I am able to.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Mr Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals before the 2020 summer recess to tackle unauthorised traveller camps through (a) giving the police new powers to arrest and seize the property and vehicles of trespassers who set up unauthorised encampments, (b) making intentional trespass a criminal offence and (c) giving local authorities greater powers within the planning system.

Kit Malthouse: On 5 November 2019, the Government launched a consultation seeking views on measures to strengthen police powers to tackle unauthorised encampments The consultation closed on the 5 March. We will announce the outcome of this consultation in due course.The government is committed to strengthening national policy so local planning authorities have stronger grounds to reject retrospective planning applications where there has been intentional unauthorised development. MHCLG will also extend the time period for temporary stop notices giving local planning authorities more time to build their case for enforcement action. MHCLG intend to consult on the details of these proposals shortly.

Slavery: Victims

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on the provision of accommodation for individuals supported through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract at the end of the three month period of government-funded safe accommodation announced by her Department on 6 April 2020.

Victoria Atkins: This Government is absolutely clear that the safety and well-being of those supported through the modern slavery Victim Care Contract (VCC) remains a top priority. Contingency planning has, and continues to, consider how essential services and support for all victims of modern slavery can continue throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and as lock down begins to ease. To help ensure the safety and support of individuals receiving support from the Victim Care Contract, and in line with Public Health England guidance, we announced on the 6 April that all individuals accommodated by the Victim Care Contract would not be required to move on from their Government-funded accommodation for a period of three months, and that this policy would be reviewed at the end of June 2020. This temporary guidance is currently being reviewed and next steps will be announced shortly.

Immigrants: Health Services

Mr Richard Holden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost of excluding EEA and Swiss citizens from the immigration health surcharge to (a) the UK, (b) England and (c) in Barnett consequentials for the devolved Administrations.

Kevin Foster: Analysis on the impact of the ending of free movement in the UK on EEA and Swiss citizens is currently underway and will be published at a later date. This will include analysis of the impact of the Immigration Health Surcharge.Income generated by Immigration Health Surcharge payments go directly to NHS services, helping to protect and sustain our world-class healthcare system for everyone who uses it.An Impact Assessment for the planned increase to the Surcharge was published alongside the statutory instrument. It can be found at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2020/30/pdfs/ukia_20200030_en.pdf

Immigrants: Fees and Charges

Mr Richard Holden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse is of not extending the (a) fee for applications to enter or remain in the UK, (b) fee for sponsorship licenses, (c) immigration health surcharges, (d) immigration skills charges in relation EU citizens in the UK who have will no longer have the right of free movement after the transition period.

Kevin Foster: Further analysis into the impact of the ending of free movement in the UK on EEA and Swiss citizens is currently underway and will be published at a later date. The Border, Immigration and Citizenship System (BICS) is predominately funded by the user. The Home Office believes it is right those who use it contribute to its cost, thereby reducing the burden on the UK taxpayer. Income collected from the Immigration Skills charge is used to address skills gaps in the UK workforce and income generated by Immigration Health Surcharge payments go directly to NHS services, helping to protect and sustain our world-class healthcare system for everyone who uses it. EU citizens in the UK have access to the EU Settlement Scheme, which is open until 30 June 2021 and is free of charge for eligible individuals. An Impact Assessment for the EU Settlement Scheme was published and can be found at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2019/74/pdfs/ukia_20190074_en.pdf

Airguns: Reviews

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to publish its response to the review of the regulation of air weapons in England and Wales, published in October 2017.

Kit Malthouse: The Government fully understands the interest that Members of Parliament and others have in the outcomes of the review of air weapons regulation, and the concerns that have been expressed about the consequences, sometimes tragic, arising from the misuse of these weapons. We intend to publish our conclusions in due course, alongside a consultation on firearms safety issues, to which we committed during the passage of the Offensive Weapons Bill.

Asylum

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking during the covid-19 outbreak to improve the (a) provision and (b) accessibility of Government guidance and information on asylum to people seeking asylum.

Chris Philp: In March, we set up a dedicated engagement channel with key stakeholders to cover the impact of Covid-19 on asylum and resettlement, and to ensure that the necessary guidance and information was reaching asylum seekers across the UK. The British Red Cross were nominated by the sector as the single point of contact; officials speak to them on a regular basis and calls are often accompanied by written updates, which the British Red Cross share with the wider sector, and onto asylum seekers. We have also set up a similar engagement channel with the Strategic Migration Partnership, which also includes a weekly call and regular written updates. Our liaison with British Red Cross as a single point of contact has successfully ensured that asylum seekers have the information they require in recent months. We are now in the process of drafting additional guidance, which will be published on GOV.UK, on asylum interviewing and decision-making during the period in which our operations are still affected by the Covid-19 outbreak in the UK. This will provide greater provision of information to asylum seekers.

Asylum

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been waiting more than six months for an asylum decision; and if she will grant those people the right to work and access education.

Chris Philp: The Home Office publishes data on asylum applications in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release). Data on the number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision or further review are published in table Asy_D03 of the asylum and resettlement detailed datasets (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets). Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to the year ending September 2019. Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the ‘summary tables’ (attached). The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on asylum and resettlement.Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’ (https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&organisations%5B%5D=home-office&order=release-date-oldest).Asylum seekers can work in the UK if their claim has been outstanding for 12 months, through no fault of their own. Those allowed to work are restricted to jobs on the Shortage Occupation List, which is published by the Home Office and based on expert advice from the Migration Advisory Committee. Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. A review of the policy is ongoing, and we are considering the evidence put forward on the issue. There is nothing in the Immigration Rules to prevent asylum seekers studying. However, asylum-seekers who wish to access higher education courses can expect to be charged the full cost of their course by the university concerned.



Asylum summary tables
(Excel SpreadSheet, 118.48 KB)

Asylum

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been waiting more than 12 months for an asylum decision; and if she will grant those people Discretionary Leave to Remain.

Chris Philp: The Home Office does not publish data on the number of people waiting for more than 12 months for an asylum decision. The latest Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release, on data to the year ending March 2020, can be accessed at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release Table Asy D03 of the ‘asylum and resettlement detailed datasets’ contains information on the number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision or further review and are published in. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. All asylum claims are carefully considered on their individual merits on the evidence available to the decision maker. We are committed to ensuring that asylum claims are considered without unnecessary delay, so that those who need protection are granted as soon as possible. Discretionary Leave (DL) is granted outside the Immigration Rules in accordance with published Home Office policy. DL covers those few individuals who do not qualify for any leave under the Rules, but where there are exceptional or compassionate reasons for allowing them to remain in the UK; as such, it is intended to be used sparingly and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Delays in decision making occur for a number of reasons, some of which are outside of the Home Office’s control, and it would generally not be appropriate to grant DL under these circumstances.

Asylum

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what feedback mechanism her Department has put in place for asylum seekers to communicate how well the Department has met their needs throughout their application process; and what recent assessment her Department has made of the quality of the support it provides to asylum seekers.

Chris Philp: UKVI uses feedback from complaints, reports and audits, surveys and customer focus groups to make sure that we are continually improving the service we provide to those who seek asylum in the UK. UKVI work closely with our key partners and stakeholders to seek and share this feedback to identify ways in which we can improve the quality of experience of people seeking asylum in the UK. We have recently set up a Customer Experience Management Team, based across the UK, who will work closely on a local level with stakeholders, to identify key areas to improve the overall experience for people seeking asylum in the UK. Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute are provided with free accommodation and a weekly cash allowance to cover their other essential living needs. With effect from 15 June, the allowance was raised from £37.75 to £39.60, an increase of around 5%. The increase is significantly higher than general inflation, which Office of National Statistics data shows was only 0.8% in the 12 months period to April 2020. Food inflation over the same period was only 1.4%. Asylum seekers also receive free NHS healthcare and free education for their children.

Visas: Musicians

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Australians used the Tier 5 visa route in 2019.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office publishes data on Tier 5 visas in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release). Data on grants of Tier 5 visas by nationality are published in table Vis_D02 of the entry clearance detailed datasets (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/managed-migration-datasets#entry-clearance-visas-granted-outside-the-uk). Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to year ending March 2020. Additionally, the Home Office publishes a high-level overview of the data in the entry clearance summary tables (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-march-2020/list-of-tables#entry-clearance-visas). The ‘contents’ sheet contains an overview of all available data on entry clearance visas. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’ (https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?keywords=immigration&content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&organisations%5B%5D=home-office&order=relevance).

Visas: Working Holidays

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK citizens travelled to Australia under the Working Holiday Visa in 2019.

Chris Philp: The Home Department does not currently hold this information. UK nationals’ usage of Australia’s working holiday provision is provided on an annual basis by the Australian Home Affairs department.

Home Office: Energy

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much energy was used by her Department's buildings in (a) 2020 to date and (b) each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The amount of energy used by the Home Office in each of the last five years is as follows: Financial Year2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 Energy (MWh)128,067132,752124,560114,134115,858 Data is not yet available for any part of 2020-21 as this is collated quarterly in arrears. The department is committed to reducing its carbon emissions on a trajectory to Net Zero by 2050 or sooner; and has reduced its total emissions by 55% by 2019-20 compared to 2009-10.

British National (Overseas): Visas

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2020 to Question 53418 on British National (Overseas): Visas, whether the arrangements to extend visa rights for British National (Overseas) passport holders will also apply to the dependants of those passport holders.

Kevin Foster: The UK will continue to defend the rights & freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. Should China push ahead and impose national security legislation on Hong Kong then we will provide a generous offer to BN(O)s of a bespoke immigration route providing unrestricted access to work and study with a pathway to apply for citizenship. We are working closely with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and domestic departments on the offer to British Nationals (Overseas) and will set out more detail in due course.

Northern Ireland Office

Marriage and Civil partnerships: Northern Ireland

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to bring forward regulations under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 to enable (a) religious marriage for same-sex couples and (b) conversion of Northern Ireland civil partnerships to marriages.

Mr Robin Walker: On 13 January 2020, the Marriage (Same-sex Couples) and Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019 came into force in Northern Ireland, extending eligibility to same-sex couples to form civil marriages and allowing opposite-sex couples to enter into a civil partnership. We are committed to delivering on two remaining areas - same-sex religious marriage and conversion entitlements. A consultation on these two issues closed on 23 February 2020, and we are considering all of the submissions received before bringing forward the necessary legislation as soon as possible before the end of 2020.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the costs of Operation Kenova have been to date.

Mr Robin Walker: Operation Kenova is the independent investigation into a range of activities surrounding an alleged agent codenamed Stakeknife, led by former chief constable Jon Boutcher. Since it was established in 2016, Operation Kenova has taken on three further investigations at the request of the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. As this is an independent investigation, funding is the responsibility of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Marriage: Northern Ireland

Colum Eastwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Minister on plans to legislate for same-sex religious marriage.

Mr Robin Walker: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has not had any recent discussions with the First and deputy First Minister specifically on plans to legislate for same-sex religious marriage. The Northern Ireland Executive is aware of the duty that the Government is under in section 8 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019, which led to the making of The Marriage (Same-sex Couples) and Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019. These Regulations came into force on 13 January and legalised same-sex civil marriage and opposite-sex civil partnerships in Northern Ireland. We have been clear that there were two remaining areas we are committed to delivering on - same-sex religious marriage and conversion entitlements - following publicly consulting on these two issues earlier this year. We will continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Civil Service, following confirmation from the Minister for Finance, Conor Murphy MLA, that the working relationship with his officials should continue. We intend to make regulations on same-sex religious marriage as soon as possible before the end of 2020 to provide similar rights and protections to the law in other parts of the UK.

Treasury

Food: Wholesale Trade

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the application of business rates relief to food and drink wholesalers who supply hospitals, schools, care homes and the hospitality industry.

Jesse Norman: The Government has provided enhanced support through business rates relief to businesses occupying properties used for retail, hospitality and leisure given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published guidance for local authorities on eligible properties. As set out in the guidance, support is targeted at premises that are wholly or mainly being used as shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues; for assembly and leisure; or as hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation. It is for local authorities to determine eligibility for reliefs, having regard to guidance issued by the Government. A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as wholesalers, has also been made available.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Afzal Khan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of operating local furlough schemes due to the regional differences in the R rate of infection of covid-19.

Jesse Norman: The CJRS scheme has been extended to the end of October. After eight months, it will then close. As the economy re-opens, support will be adjusted in a way that ensures people can get back to work, protecting both the UK economy and the livelihoods of the British people. The aim of the CJRS is to protect jobs that may have been made redundant and to gradually enable firms to bring staff back to work as non-pharmaceutical interventions begin to be lifted, in order to help restart the economy.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Islam

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the accessibility the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for businesses that are unable to access that scheme as a result of Sharia law restrictions on taking interest bearing loans.

Jesse Norman: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme provides grants. These do not accrue interest.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people placed on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme have subsequently been made redundant.

Jesse Norman: Employers are not required to inform HMRC of redundancies. CJRS is a new scheme and HMRC are currently working through the analysis they will be able to provide based on the data available.

Treasury: Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the criteria his Department plans to use for prioritising Official Development Assistance spending in the event of a decrease in GNI.

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department is signing new funding agreement for projects from the Official Development Assistance budget.

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has notified other Departments of the required savings on their share of the Official Development Assistance budget in the event of a decrease in GNI.

Steve Barclay: The UK has a legal commitment to spend 0.7% of its gross national income (GNI) each year on Official Development Assistance (ODA). The government reviews the ODA funding it allocates to projects on a regular basis in order to ensure delivery of its commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on ODA. HM Treasury allocates ODA budgets to departments and is responsible for decisions on changes to these. We take evidence-based spending decisions and ensure departments maintain high standards of programme delivery that are consistent with HMG best practice.

Pensions: Coronavirus

Patricia Gibson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has plans to enable people facing financial difficulties during the covid-19 outbreak to draw down more than one quarter of their pension early without incurring 40 per cent tax.

John Glen: The Government wishes to encourage pension saving, to help ensure that people have an income, or funds on which they can draw, throughout retirement. This makes pensions tax relief one of the most expensive reliefs in the personal tax system. In 2017/18 income tax and employer National Insurance Contributions relief cost £54 billion.The Government therefore imposes a charge on early withdrawals, which can be from 40% to 55% depending on the circumstances, both to recoup its investment through tax relief and to provide individuals with a strong incentive to save through their pension for the long-term.It is for these reasons that the Government does not have any plans to remove tax on pension payments in response to this outbreak. As with all tax policy, this will be kept under review.

Corporation Tax: Coronavirus

Owen Thompson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to suspend interest on outstanding corporation tax bills for those who have had to defer payment due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Jesse Norman: The Government has announced an unprecedented package of support for businesses and individuals during the Covid-19 outbreak. This includes the deferral of certain VAT and Self-Assessment payments in 2020-21, and the waiving of associated interest and penalties. HMRC have scaled up their Time to Pay (TTP) service, where individual and business taxpayers can agree tailored plans to defer certain tax payments due and repay them over an agreed period of time. These arrangements can include any tax or duty administered by HMRC, including Corporation Tax (CT). Interest will continue to accrue on TTP arrangements including those for CT, in the usual way, to cover the costs to Government of late payment. Incorporated businesses may have access to a wide range of Government support to help with finances and cashflow, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the Small Business Grant Scheme.

Duty Free Allowances: Northern Ireland

Colum Eastwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the ability of Northern Ireland's airports to offer duty free sales after the transition period.

Jesse Norman: The Government continues to work through the implications of the Northern Ireland Protocol, and the unique situation in Northern Ireland that it creates for VAT and excise. The Government is committed to providing guidance on how the NI Protocol will work, including for duty-free goods, ahead of the end of the transition period.

Remote Working: Coronavirus

Colum Eastwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking with HMRC to provide financial assistance for increased utilities costs to those working from home during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jesse Norman: Employees who have been advised to work from home during the COVID-19 outbreak are eligible to claim tax relief for the additional cost of heating and lighting the room in which they work and for the cost of business telephone calls. They can claim relief on a fixed amount of £4 per week up to 5 April 2020 and £6 per week thereafter. This increase was announced at Budget. Alternatively, employees can claim relief on the actual amounts incurred, subject to them being able to provide evidence, such as phone bills.In addition, the Government has introduced legislation so that, where an employer encourages their staff to purchase their own home office equipment and reimburses the expense, an exemption will ensure that employees now receive the full reimbursement free from tax and Class 1 National Insurance Contributions (NICs). This is a temporary exemption which applies from 16 March 2020 until 5 April 2021. Relevant guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-which-expenses-are-taxable-if-your-employee-works-from-home-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what protections are in place to ensure that all furloughed workers are guaranteed to receive the equivalent of the national minimum wage.

Jesse Norman: Individuals are only entitled to the National Living Wage, National Minimum Wage or Apprentice Minimum Wage for the hours they are working or treated as working under minimum wage rules. Hours spent on furlough are, by definition, not hours spent working. It should be noted that time spent training while furloughed is treated as working time for the purposes of the minimum wage calculations and must be paid at the appropriate minimum wage rate.

Public Expenditure

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Government plans to undertake the next comprehensive spending review.

Steve Barclay: As announced in March, the Spending Review has been delayed to later this year to ensure that HM Treasury and departments can remain focused on responding to the immediate public health and economic emergency caused by COVID-19. Further details about the next Spending Review will be set out in due course.

Airports: Coronavirus

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support he is providing to airports in England and Wales in response to the economic effects of the covid-19 pandemic.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government recognises the challenging times facing the aviation sector as a result of COVID-19 and firms experiencing difficulties as a result of COVID-19 can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including schemes to raise capital, flexibilities with tax bills, and financial support for employees.As the Chancellor set out in his letter to the aviation sector, should individual firms still find themselves in difficulty after exhausting all other options, the Government is willing to enter discussions with them as a last resort. Any intervention would need to represent value for money for taxpayers.

Food: Wholesale Trade

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason his Department has not allocated financial support to food and drink wholesalers; whether food and drink wholesalers are classified as part of the same supply chain as the supermarkets which they supply; and if he will make it his policy to extend (a) business rates relief and (b) the Hospitality, Retail and Leisure Grant, to the food and drink wholesale sector.

Jesse Norman: The Government has provided enhanced support through business rates relief and business grants to businesses occupying properties used for retail, hospitality and leisure given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published guidance for Local Authorities (LAs) in England on eligible properties for the business rates relief. It is for LAs to determine eligibility for reliefs, having regard to guidance issued by the Government. LAs can choose to make discretionary grants to businesses in wider supply chains, like the wholesale food and drink sector, if the LA considers there is a particular local economic need. Businesses that are not eligible for business rates relief or business grants can still benefit from the wider business and employment support package the Government has made available.

Top Glove: Imports

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether rubber gloves manufactured by Malaysian company Top Glove have been imported into the UK in the last six months.

Jesse Norman: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are responsible for the collection and publication of data on UK imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC release this information monthly, as a National Statistic: the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics.The trade data collected does not enable HMRC to determine the manufacturer of goods.There is aggregated trade data available for the goods and the periods requested on the uktradeinfo.com website, under ‘Build your own data tables’. The site also contains a ‘Help’ function with information on how to extract trade data.Trade data relating to the value of rubber gloves imported from Malaysia can be searched for using commodity codes 4015110000 for surgical gloves and 4015190000 for other rubber gloves. These data sets may include gloves manufactured outside but imported through Malaysia, and exclude gloves manufactured within Malaysia but imported indirectly through other countries.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Greater London

Sir David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many self-employed people have successfully applied for grants under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme in (a) Bexley borough and (b) Greater London.

Jesse Norman: As of 31 May 2020, 10,500 individuals had applied for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme in the Bexley local authority area. As of 31 May 2020, 433,000 individuals had applied for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme in the London region.

VAT: Tax Rates and Bands

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an urgent assessment of the potential merits of reducing the VAT rate for on street retail shopping.

Jesse Norman: Raising over £130 billion in 2019/2020, VAT is an important source of revenue for the Exchequer and plays an important part in funding the Government’s spending priorities including hospitals, schools and defence. A VAT reduction would therefore come at a considerable cost to the Exchequer. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Chancellor has announced a range of measures to help individuals and businesses through the crisis, including grants, loans and relief from business rates worth more than £300 billion. The Government keeps all taxes under review.

Insurance Companies: Compensation

Justin Madders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the insurance sector on extending compensation for people that are affected by business closures as a result of covid-19 that are not covered by their insurance policy; and what additional support the Government plans to provide to businesses that have not had their business interruption cover triggered as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

John Glen: The Government is in continual dialogue with the insurance sector and is encouraging insurers to do all they can to support customers during this difficult period. Furthermore, the Government is working closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ensure that the rules are being upheld during this crisis and fully supports the regulator in its role.In addition, on the 1st of May the FCA outlined its intention to seek a court declaration, to resolve uncertainty for many customers making business interruption claims. This court case refers to a sample of policy wordings designed to be representative of the majority of disputed cases. On the 1st of June, the FCA announced the policy wordings that would be tested in the court action and insurers it had invited to participate directly, along with an initial list of policy wordings and insurers that will potentially be impacted by the Court’s decision on the representative sample. The FCA expects to publish a final list of all the relevant insurers and policies that may have impacted wordings in early July, and expects a court hearing to take place in late July.However, the Government recognises that businesses who do not have appropriate insurance cover will require support from elsewhere, and encourages businesses to seek assistance through the wider support package if they are in financial difficulty, which includes measures such as business rates holidays, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and wage support.

Hospitality Industry: Social Distancing

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing additional fiscal support for (a) small cafes, (b) restaurants, (c) bars and (d) hospitality businesses unable to re-open as covid-19 restrictions are eased while the two metre social distancing rules continue to apply.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency including almost £300 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15% of UK GDP. Businesses in the hospitality sector continue to have access to a range of support measures including, but not limited to: A 12-month business rates holiday for all eligible retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in EnglandThe retail, hospitality and leisure grant fund (RHLGF)A Discretionary Grant Fund for Local Authorities in EnglandThe Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprisesVAT deferral for up to 12 monthsThe Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairsProtection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until June 30, 2020 – with an option for the Government to extend if needed. The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible and how to apply - https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder. On 11 May the Government published its COVID-19 recovery strategy which sets out our plan for moving to the next phase of our response. The strategy sets out a cautious roadmap for easing existing measures in a safe and measured way. The roadmap will be kept constantly under review, and we will continue to work hard to support business and workers as the situation evolves.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Music: Coronavirus

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance he has issued for singers and choirs in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Caroline Dinenage: In order to ensure appropriate support and guidance is given to the cultural sector, DCMS has established the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and the Entertainment and Events working group which include extensive membership from artists and performers. I have also held a roundtable with representatives from the choral sector to enable choral groups to feed in views to the development of guidance. The Taskforce and Working Groups will be focusing on ensuring that COVID-19 secure guidelines are developed in line with the phasing ambitions and public health directions, building on the existing guidance and providing intelligence and sector-specific expert input. Full details of the Taskforce can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/culture-secretary-announces-cultural-renewal-taskforce and the Entertainment and Events Working Group can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/cultural-renewal-taskforce-and-supporting-working-groups#entertainment-and-events-members.

Dance: Coronavirus

Nickie Aiken: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will publish guidance on the safe re-opening of dance studios; and whether those studios will be allowed to reopen before the end of June 2020.

Caroline Dinenage: The ambition is to reopen the arts sector as part of Step 3 of the government’s roadmap, no earlier than the 4th July, subject to the scientific and medical advice at the time. In order to ensure appropriate support and guidance is given to the cultural sector, DCMS has established the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and the Entertainment and Events working group which include extensive membership from artists and performers. These groups specifically include representatives for the dance sector, such as One Dance UK. Full details of the Taskforce can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/culture-secretary-announces-cultural-renewal-taskforce, and the Entertainment and Events Working Group can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/cultural-renewal-taskforce-and-supporting-working-groups#entertainment-and-events-members. DCMS officials and ministers have also held regular calls with representatives from across the arts and cultural sector and these have included a number of dance organisations and representatives including Sadler’s Wells and Northern Ballet. The Taskforce and Working Groups will be focusing on ensuring that COVID-19 secure guidelines are developed in line with the phasing ambitions and public health directions, building on the existing guidance and providing intelligence and sector-specific expert input.

Horse Racing: Coronavirus

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on how many occasions has (a) he, (b) officials from his Department and (c) other Government representatives have met the British Horseracing Authority to hold discussions on (i) race horse welfare during the covid-19 outbreak and (ii) the financial effect of covid-19 on the ability of race horse owners to ensure the welfare of those horses.

Nigel Huddleston: Following the suspension of racing on 18 March 2020, DEFRA, which leads on horse welfare, worked with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on a weekly basis to quickly agree guidance for the care of racehorses during this lockdown period in line with social distancing. DCMS officials have also been in regular communication with the BHA and the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) regarding the economic impacts of Covid on the industry and the measures being taken to uphold horse welfare. The BHA has also taken part in regular calls with the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage and representatives of the sporting sector on these issues and the resumption of racing and other sports behind closed doors. The government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, which includes the racing industry, given the acute impacts of COVID-19 on those sectors. A range of measures to support all businesses were made available, including business rates relief, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme. The government has provided access to £10k grants to 700,000 small and medium enterprises who are currently eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rates Relief. On 17 April, the HBLB and Racing Foundation agreed an immediate £22 million cash flow and hardship funding package to support racing. The HBLB has reported on these packages on a weekly basis with the main racing bodies including the BHA.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Carers

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will place in the Library a list of the workplace benefits that his Department provides to its staff with caring responsibilities.

Caroline Dinenage: DCMS recognises the importance of providing a supportive workplace for employees who have caring responsibilities. Our aim is to enable individuals to undertake their caring responsibilities while at the same time feeling engaged and valued in the workplace. DCMS has adopted the Civil Service wide Carers' Charter and has the following workplace policies to support carers.Flexible working and job sharing - to support employees’ work-life balance particularly those with caring responsibilities.Special leave - policy sets out the provision and entitlements to paid special leave and unpaid career breaks to support employees.Parental Leave - Parental leave available to working parents to look after their child or to make arrangements for the child’s welfare.Carer’s Passport- which is a Charity for Civil Servants initiative to help civil servants with specific caring responsibilities.Internal Carer’s Network - support for carers in the department enabling them to meet other carers and to share issues and information.Employee Assistance programme - access to advice and counselling.Foster Carers’ & Family and Friends Carers’ Leave - policy to support employees who care for children under a fostering or family and friends care arrangement.

Gambling: Coronavirus

Mr Richard Holden: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when adult gaming centres and arcades will be able to re-open as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Nigel Huddleston: As detailed in the Government's roadmap “Our Plan to Rebuild” the next phase of easing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions will begin no earlier than 4 July, subject to public health advice. My Department is working through the next steps with the arcades sector in line with further announcements on the roadmap.

Sports: Coronavirus

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance his Department has issued on the (a) reopening and (b) operation of (i) indoor sports halls and (ii) sports clubs and activities as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to enable indoor sports clubs and activities to operate as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Nigel Huddleston: Indoor sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting people to be active and the Government is committed to reopening facilities, including sports halls, as soon as it is safe to do so. We are holding regular discussions with representatives from the leisure sector and national sports organisations to develop guidance that will support them to open their facilities in a timely and safe manner once lockdown measures are eased. As with all aspects of the Government’s response to Covid-19, we will be guided by the science to ensure that as restrictions are eased people can return to activity safely.

Creative Europe

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to establish a replacement programme for Creative Europe.

Caroline Dinenage: While the Government has taken the decision not to seek participation in Creative Europe’s 2021-27 programme, we remain committed to supporting the UK’s thriving cultural and creative economy. We will continue to invest money directly into the UK's cultural and creative sectors, continuing to support and grow their world-class activity on the international stage. Now we have taken back control of our money, we are able to focus spending on specific UK priorities including on our world class arts, heritage and creative industries. Officials are developing options for domestic alternatives to Creative Europe, which will be considered in line with upcoming fiscal events including the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Press Freedom

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many hon. Members have written to him on the campaign to Save the Independent Press.

Mr John Whittingdale: The Department has received correspondence from a range of stakeholders, including from Members. This Government is clear that newspapers play an invaluable role in the fabric of our society and we continue to work with stakeholders from across the Press sector and political landscape in order to ensure the effectiveness of our policies in relation to supporting all news publishers, including independent outlets. The Government will continue to consider all possible options in the interests of promoting and sustaining high-quality news journalism across the sector.

Newspaper Press: Democracy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of independent and local newspapers as regulated by the Press Regulation Panel to the functioning of democracy.

Mr John Whittingdale: The government recognises the importance of reliable, trustworthy news, which is vital to helping ensure a healthy democracy both nationally and at a local level. Local and independent newspapers play an invaluable role in the fabric of our society. They remain uniquely placed to undertake the investigative journalism and scrutiny of public institutions, including local councils and our courts.

Newspaper Press: Regulation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that newspapers and their websites are properly regulated.

Mr John Whittingdale: The government is committed to a free and independent press, and does not intervene in what the press can and cannot publish. There now exists a strengthened, independent, self-regulatory system for the press. The majority of traditional publishers—including 95% of national newspapers by circulation—are members of IPSO. A small number of publishers have joined IMPRESS.

Tourism: Coronavirus

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on tourism in each of the English regions; and if he will make a statement.

Nigel Huddleston: We recognise the COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted tourism across England. Both DCMS and VisitEngland remain in regular contact with tourism stakeholders and Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) around the country to closely monitor the situation and to assess the economic effects. The Chancellor has announced a host of measures to support businesses and individuals through the crisis, including those in the tourism sector. This includes the recently extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Bounce Back Loans scheme. Through VisitEngland, we announced a £1.3 million scheme to provide financial support to DMOs at risk of closure due to COVID-19. This allowed DMOs to continue their vital business support work, providing advice and guidance for tourism businesses across England. My Department has established a Cultural Renewal Taskforce to help our sectors’ prepare to safely reopen. Within this taskforce, I chair a specific Visitor Economy Working Group which is developing guidance to help tourism businesses to safely reopen. We will continue to engage with stakeholders to assess how we can most effectively support the tourism sector’s recovery from Covid-19. As soon as it is safe to do so, we will encourage people to book trips and support domestic tourism.

Bed and Breakfast Accommodation: Coronavirus

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on bed and breakfast owners; and if he will make a statement.

Nigel Huddleston: We are aware that these are extremely difficult conditions for tourism businesses such as bed and breakfasts. My officials and I continue to hold detailed discussions with representatives of the holiday accommodation industry, including the Bed and Breakfast Association, to gather as much intelligence as possible on COVID-19’s economic impacts. The UK Government has announced a comprehensive support package to protect businesses and workers, including B&B owners, against the current economic emergency. This includes the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. We have also introduced a Bounce Back Loan scheme to help small businesses access loans of up to £50,000, with a 100% government-backed guarantee for lenders. To accommodate certain small businesses previously outside the scope of the business grant funds schemes, the Government has allocated additional funding to Local Authorities in England in the form of a discretionary grant fund of up to £617m. The guidance pertaining to this fund specifically refers to Bed and Breakfasts that pay council tax as being in scope. We are committed to helping tourism businesses through this crisis – and we will actively encourage people to book holidays as soon as it is safe to do so.

BBC: Political Impartiality

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the BBC on the impartiality of its news coverage for children.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will hold discussions with the BBC on their processes for ensuring that BBC journalists and presenters uphold their impartiality.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the BBC on the importance of impartiality.

Mr John Whittingdale: When speaking to Tim Davie to congratulate him on his appointment as the new Director General of the BBC, the Secretary of State welcomed Tim Davie’s commitment to impartiality at the BBC. In an age of fake news and self reinforcing algorithms, the need for genuine impartiality is greater than ever. The BBC has a duty to deliver impartial and accurate news coverage and content under its Royal Charter. The BBC is operationally and editorially independent of government, and it is for the BBC Board to ensure that all of the BBC’s output meets the highest standards the public expects. Ofcom is the independent regulator of the BBC, and is responsible for holding the BBC to account in this regard.

Theatres: Coronavirus

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of support after October 2020 for independent theatres that cannot operate under social distancing measures.

Caroline Dinenage: The performing arts industry is one the UK's greatest success stories and we are doing all we can to support the sector through the pandemic. We are providing unprecedented assistance including a years' business rates holiday, government loans, the recently-extended Self Employed Income Support Scheme, the Job Retention Scheme that hundreds of organisations have received support from. Additionally, DCMS has worked closely with its arm’s-length bodies to deliver tailored support packages at speed, including the £160m Emergency Funding Package announced by Arts Council England, made possible by Government funding. This intervention complements the financial measures already announced to ensure immediate resilience of this vital sector. The package includes £140 million of support for artistic organisations including independent theatres; and £20 million of financial support for individuals, including self-employed theatre practitioners, so they can better sustain themselves, and their work, in the coming months. To date more than 9000 individuals and organisations have been successful in applying for this emergency funding. The Secretary of State, myself and officials continue to consult the Art sector extensively to ensure we fully understand the financial impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the sector. On the basis of that engagement, DCMS and ACE are continuing to work closely to consider the additional measures required to ensure the long-term recovery and growth of the cultural sector, including independent theatres, and we remain committed to opening up venues as soon as it is safe to do so and are working directly with the sector on detailed advice and guidance.

Independent Press Standards Organisation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has plans to undertake a review of the role of Independent Press Standards Organisation in the regulation of the news media.

Mr John Whittingdale: The media landscape has changed significantly since the Leveson Inquiry, with crucial changes to press self-regulation. The government is committed to self-regulation and we now have a stronger system through The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).IPSO is independent of government. In 2016 it commissioned its own external review which found it had made some important achievements in demonstrating it was an independent and effective regulator.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Post Offices: Convictions

Chris Loder: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many UK citizens are currently imprisoned having been convicted of crimes in relation to the Post Office Horizon system.

Paul Scully: Post Office has not prosecuted any cases relating to its Horizon system since 2015. According to Post Office’s records, no-one is currently imprisoned as a result of its historical prosecutions. Records of cases prosecuted by the UK’s public prosecution agencies which may also relate to Horizon will be kept by the Crown Prosecution Service, Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service and the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland respectively. Post Office has made those agencies aware of the concerns relating to Horizon and Judge Fraser’s findings in the recent Horizon court case.

Industrial Health and Safety: Coronavirus

Simon Baynes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions officials in his Department have had with (a) businesses, (b) trade unions and (c) workers on developing guidance on workplace safety during the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: There was an extensive series of engagements to support the drafting process for guidance on safe return to work, with several roundtables chaired by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State, meetings with businesses, unions and other representative organisations and written consultations.

Hospitality Industry: Coronavirus

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to help ensure the (a) financial sustainability and (b) growth of the hospitality sector after the covid-19 outbreak subsides.

Paul Scully: The Government is engaging with representatives from across the hospitality sector to help ensure its financial sustainability after the current Covid-19 outbreak. Work is progressing to develop guidance following consultation with representatives from the industry to allow the sector to reopen and return to trading in a Covid-secure way. As my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer has already announced, the Government’s Job Retention Scheme has been extended until October in order to support businesses through the reopening phase.

Businesses: Voucher Schemes

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has any plans to increase the protections afforded to those who buy gift cards for businesses in cash, in line with those offered through the Chargeback scheme and Consumer Credit Act, in circumstances where businesses enter administration.

Paul Scully: The Department asked the Law Commission to examine the protection given to consumer prepayments, including gift vouchers, and consider whether such protections should be strengthened. The Law Commission concluded that gift voucher losses were relatively uncommon, and mandatory regulation on gift vouchers in an insolvency context would be disproportionate. Costs arising to businesses from regulation could also be passed on to consumers. The Government has worked with the industry and consumer groups to publish better guidance for insolvency practitioners on the information that should be made available to consumers when a retailer becomes insolvent.

Coal: Imports and Exports

Mr Richard Holden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much coal in (a) tonnes and (b) cash terms the UK has (i) imported and (ii) exported in each of the last 10 years.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Information on UK coal trade is published in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) table G.2. YearCoal import volume, thousand tonnesCoal export volume, thousand tonnesCoal import value (c.i.f.), £mCoal export value (f.o.b.), £m200936,5046462,63577201023,5797151,85086201131,9669862,987159201242,2357263,133110201345,5238432,988129201439,3866172,32384201522,5174861,2556020168,6796386216720178,20548892460201810,1287011,153119Source: H.M. Revenue and Customs In this table coal includes steam coal, coking coal, coke and anthracite. Data for 2019 will be published on 30 July 2020.

Self-employed: Adoption

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to extend Statutory Adoption Pay to self-employed people.

Paul Scully: As part of the Spring Budget 2020, the Government committed to consider how to provide appropriate support to self-employed parents, including adopters, so that they can continue to run their businesses, as part of the Government’s wider review of Parental Pay and Leave. Currently, adopters may be eligible for adoption allowance from their local authority to help them cope with the extra costs adoption brings about.

Personal Care Services: Coronavirus

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department will publish guidance on the safe reopening and operation of tanning and beauty salons that operate from home.

Paul Scully: On 13 May, five ministerial-led taskforces were set up to develop plans for how closed sectors could reopen safely, including Close Contact Services such as tanning and beauty salons. As part of this work, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is engaging constructively with the Close Contact Services industry to develop guidance for them to reopen safely, given the higher risk of transmission in these environments where long periods of person to person contact is required. This work is progressing well.

Businesses: Scotland

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he last met the Secretary of State for Scotland to discuss the safeguarding and promotion of Scottish business.

Paul Scully: My ministerial colleagues and I are in regular contact with the Office for the Secretary of State for Scotland to discuss the safeguarding and promotion of Scottish business. In April, my Hon. Friends the Minister for Business and Industry and the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Scotland Office jointly held a webinar with Scottish Council for Development and Industry to discuss the Government’s Covid response to safeguard and support busines in Scotland. In May, the Minister for Business and Industry also attended the joint Scottish Government and UK Government Ministerial-led Scottish Business Growth Group to discuss support for businesses during Covid and future economic recovery.

Aerospace Industry: Government Assistance

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much financial support his Department has allocated to the aerospace sector since the start of the covid-19 lockdown; and what plans he has to provide further support to that sector.

Nadhim Zahawi: Aerospace companies have benefitted from the Government’s extensive financial support package, on top of existing support measures for the sector. The UK’s aviation and aerospace sectors can expect to benefit from over £6 billion of support through UK Export Finance, the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Finance Facility, research and development grants, and other measures. We will continue to support the UK aerospace industry to get back on its feet to protect jobs across the UK.

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to maintain participation in the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.

Paul Scully: As the UK has left the European Union, the UK is no longer a member of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Only Member States of the EU can be members of the Foundation. The UK will continue to have access to the research produced by the Foundation, and if the Foundation or the EU wish the UK to be involved in any discussions, meetings or research, the UK Government will consider any such request on its merits.

Business: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the preparation undertaken by businesses to support people that are vulnerable to covid-19.

Paul Scully: Employers have a duty under UK law to protect the health and safety of their workers and other people who might be affected by their business. This includes considering the risks that COVID-19 represents. Our guidance outlines steps employers should consider, and employers should use the guidance to create specific plans for their business in consultation with those who are affected by their operations, including workers and contractors. We know that every organisation is different. Each business’s plan will depend on the nature of the business, such as the sector, and the details of the workforce and operations.

Industrial Health and Safety: Coronavirus

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2020 to Question 54118, on Industrial Health and Safety: Coronavirus, what plans his Department has to monitor the recommendation that employers with over 50 workers publish risk assessments online as announced in his statement on 12 May 2020.

Paul Scully: We worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive to develop this guidance, including the risk assessment content. Existing health and safety legislation requires risk assessments to be carried out, and our guidance does not change this. We are asking companies to consider publishing the results of their risk assessments whenever possible, although publishing risk assessments is not a legal obligation. The Government expects larger organisations – those with over 50 workers – to publish the results of their risk assessments. We think businesses will want to do this to help build the confidence of their workers and their customers. In order to help with this, the Government has provided a new notice which employers can display to show they have followed the guidance on managing the risks of COVID-19.

Vaccination: Research

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what criteria were used in the the decision making process which led to the award of £126 million to experimental vaccines at Oxford University and Imperial College London and the rejection of funding for vaccine projects at Bristol University and Nottingham University.

Amanda Solloway: In Oxford and Imperial, we have two of the global front-runners in C-19 vaccine development. The teams at Oxford University and Imperial College are the most progressed in terms to developing a vaccine candidate and entering clinical trials, in the UK. As such, the Vaccine Taskforce has worked to ensure that Oxford and Imperial receive the investment from BEIS and DHSC to accelerate the development of a successful COVID19 vaccine. The Vaccines Taskforce will continue to review and engage with other candidates and the Government is rightly proud of the work that many of our academic institutions are conducting in response to COVID 19.

Future Fund

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many businesses have received support from the Future Fund, by region.

Paul Scully: As of 14 June, 155 convertible loans have been approved under the Future Fund, with a total value of £146 million.Regional figures for the Future Fund will be published monthly and the first release of data will be later this month.

Climate Change Convention

Jamie Stone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether accredited observer organisations will have access to the Blue Zone at COP26.

Paul Scully: The engagement of observer organisations will be of fundamental value to COP26.IGOs and NGOs are firstly required to register for observer status via the UNFCCC’s online registration system. Once observer status has been obtained, organisations can then register delegates to attend UNFCCC conferences and meetings. Accredited delegates will have access to the Blue Zone at COP26.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 3 June 2020, official report, column 847, that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, what steps the Government is taking to prevent employers from using that scheme to fund the wages of employees only for those employers to put the same staff on notice of redundancy during the furlough period.

Paul Scully: An employer can opt to make a worker redundant under certain conditions, if they deem this to be the best course of action to take for their business. The employee will maintain rights against unfair dismissal and to redundancy payments during the period of furlough. Any redundancy process should be fair and reasonable, with appropriate equalities considerations. Pay during the redundancy notice period is based on the individual’s rights under their contract of employment and the statutory right to notice pay (under section 86 and the following sections of the Employment Rights Act 1996). In these difficult times, we would not expect an employer to take advantage of CJRS, which has brought benefit to employers and employees alike, to make someone redundant on less favourable terms than they would otherwise have received. Please visit the Gov.uk page for updates and changes to the scheme at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether lenders accredited under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme are offering interest rates of 10 per cent or more.

Paul Scully: The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is being delivered by a network of more than 90 accredited lenders operating across the market. Individual lending decisions are at the discretion of these lenders. The Government pays the interest and any lender-levied fees in the first 12 months of any CBILS facility. Interest rates after 12 months will vary between lenders and will depend on the specific lending proposal. The Government also guarantees 80% of a CBILS facility and lenders must pass the economic benefit of the existence of this guarantee to the borrower through lower pricing than it may otherwise have had. For further information about interest rates after the initial 12 month period, businesses should speak to their lender on what interest rates they will charge after this time.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the interest rates that a lender sets for CBILS loans is a factor in determining whether that company is accredited as a CBILS lender.

Paul Scully: Interest rates are one of a range of factors taken into consideration when the British Business Bank reviews a lender’s application to become a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) delivery partner. The accreditation agreement makes clear that the interest rate at which the lender is prepared to lend at, and any associated fees, should be based on a lender’s normal pricing framework. The Government expects that the benefit of the CBILS guarantee is passed through to the borrower. This should be reflected in the interest rate and lender-levied fees that are charged on each CBILS facility, both during the period of the Business Interruption Payment and for the remainder of the facility.

Hospitality Industry: Coronavirus

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the number of small (a) cafes, (b) restaurants, (c) bars and (d) other hospitality businesses which will be unable to reopen because of social distancing rules due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: We recognise the challenges facing this industry during this time. Our extensive package of support continues to be available, including our furlough scheme which has been extended until October, 100% business rates holidays, and tens of bullions of pounds’ worth of business loans and guarantees. Information regarding the number of hospitality businesses which are currently unable to reopen is not in the public domain and is, therefore, classed as commercially sensitive information. We are working with the sector at pace to develop guidance on how these businesses can reopen safely. The Pubs and Restaurants working level Technical Group comprised stakeholders from a cross-section of the sector, with representation from trade bodies to small and medium sized operators, unions, as well as the supply chain, Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive. We consulted these stakeholders due to their expertise and real-life knowledge and experience of the challenges faced by the industry during the COVID-19 outbreak. This Guidance will be published ahead of time to allow the sector to prepare.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Religious Buildings: Coronavirus

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) guidance and (b) financial support is available to help places of worship safely resume their activities after the covid-19 situation.

Luke Hall: We have published guidance for the safe use of places of worship during the pandemic. This includes guidance to assist places of worship to prepare to reopen for individual prayer from 13 June in a manner that is safe and in line with social distancing guidelines.We will continue to review when it might be safe to ease other restrictions on places of worship, including for communal prayer. This is subject to the five tests for easing measures and further detailed scientific advice. We expect that places of worship will not be permitted to open for communal prayer until 4 July at the earliest.MHCLG continues to play a facilitative role in ensuring Government understands how it can support faith groups to respond to the pressures they face during this period and throughout the Government's recovery strategy.There are a range of Government-backed financial support measures that places of worship can access.The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Scheme are both available to registered charities, and therefore places of worship registered with the Charities Commission. Any organisation, including a place of worship, that is unable to pay any HMRC bill due to COVID-19 should contact the HMRC Coronavirus helpline. If charities or places of worship are VAT registered, they are also able to use the VAT deferral scheme.The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme provides support for any entity with a UK payroll - small or large, charitable or non-profit - to be reimbursed 80 per cent of furloughed worker wages by HMRC, up to a cap of £2,500 per month.However, we know that some charities cannot furlough staff as they are contributing to the frontline response. There is a substantial package of targeted support for charities on the frontline of responding to COVID-19. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/financial-support-for-voluntary-community-and-social-enterprise-vcse-organisations-to-respond-to-coronavirus-covid-19#further-financial-support.

Building Safety Fund

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, where an external wall system has windows installed and a similar system tested to BR135 does not, whether those systems will be considered to match in terms of assessing eligibility for the Building Safety Fund.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, where an external wall system has a different number of cavity barriers installed to a similar system tested to BR135, whether those systems will be considered to match in terms of assessing eligibility for the Building Safety Fund.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, where an external wall system has ventilation openings installed and a similar system tested to BR135 does not, whether those systems will be considered to match in terms of assessing eligibility for the Building Safety Fund.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether an A2 cladding/C class combustible insulation system which has passed a BS 8414 test will be eligible for funding under the Building Safety Fund.

Christopher Pincher: The Building Safety Fund prospectus was published 26 May. The prospectus sets out the buildings and non-ACM cladding systems, in the technical annex e, that are eligible for funding. During the registration and application process, the Department will be able to engage individually with building owners regarding questions specific to individual buildings.

Towns Fund

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much in cash terms has been spent from the Towns Fund to date.

Mr Simon Clarke: In December, we paid out £16.4 million in capacity funding to local authorities from the initial 100 towns selected to agree Town Deals. This was to support the development of a Town Deal Board and Town Investment Plan for each of the shortlisted towns in their area.To date we have also allocated £14.5 million in Future High Streets Fund revenue funding to places to develop detailed business cases for their proposals.

Towns Fund

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will provide a breakdown of any capital funding which has been allocated to local authorities from the Towns Fund.

Mr Simon Clarke: Local authorities have not yet received any capital funding from the Towns Fund. Now that we have published the Towns Fund further guidance, I am looking forward to Towns coming forward with their transformative proposals through their Town Investment Plans

Towns Fund

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2020 to Question 32301, on Towns Fund, whether the further guidance for local authorities has been published; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Mr Simon Clarke: I am delighted to say that the Towns Fund further guidance has now been published. This will enable towns to finalise their Town Investment Plans and ultimately to agree their Town Deals with Government.

Business: Coronavirus

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish the list of businesses allowed to open in phase three of the covid-19 lockdown restrictions; and whether he plans to issue guidance to those companies on being covid-19 secure.

Mr Simon Clarke: Following scientific evidence and advice, on 10 May, the Prime Minister announced a roadmap for reopening. As part of Step three of the roadmap, the ambition is to open at least some of the remaining businesses and premises that have been required to close, including personal care (such as hairdressers and beauty salons) hospitality (such as food service providers, pubs and accommodation), public places (such as places of worship) and leisure facilities (like cinemas).They should seek to meet the COVID-19 Secure guidelines provided by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to continue to limit the spread of the virus. Some venues where it may prove difficult to enact distancing may not be able to re-open safely at this point, or may be able to open safely only in part.  The Government’s current planning assumption is that this step will be no earlier than 4 July, subject to the five tests, and further scientific advice provided closer to the time.

Religious Buildings: Coronavirus

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Answer of 9 June 2020 to Question 55024 on Religious Buildings: Coronavirus, for what reason his Department has no plans to engage with the Muslim Council of Britain.

Luke Hall: Our engagement on the issue of reopening places of worship has been broad and has drawn on the expertise of all the key faiths including a broad spectrum of Muslim voices. The decision on who Government engages with is based on a number of factors and the decisions are regularly reviewed on a case by case basis.

Devolution: North Yorkshire

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to announce the devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire.

Mr Simon Clarke: We are in early discussions with York and North Yorkshire about devolution, and are committed to negotiating more devolution settlements like the West Yorkshire Devolution Deal agreed in March.

Local Government: Meetings

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities are holding full council meetings; and of those councils how many are holding those meetings (a) virtually, (b) as a hybrid mix of virtual and in person and (c) in person with social distancing; and which local authorities are meeting in all formats.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020  enable all local authority meetings to be held remotely and do not preclude physical meetings or a hybrid form of meeting where these can be held in accordance with public health regulations and guidance. It is for each local authority to determine what is appropriate in their specific circumstances, taking legal advice as necessary. The Government is not monitoring how many councils are holding full council meetings or the extent to which these are being held remotely.

Rough Sleeping: Coronavirus

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of rough sleepers housed through the Everybody In initiative were still accommodated on 1 June 2020, by local authority area.

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of rough sleepers who were accommodated by the Everybody In initiative have been placed in (a) move-on accommodation and (b) permanent accommodation by 1 June 2020, by local authority.

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of rough sleepers accommodated by the Everybody In initiative had returned to rough sleeping by 1 June 2020.

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many units of (a) move on accommodation and (b) permanent accommodation have been identified for people accommodated under the Everybody In initiative, by local authority.

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who have become street homeless since the start of the Everybody In initiative who have not been accommodated in emergency accommodation, by local authority area.

Luke Hall: On 3 June, the Government published the management information that supports the announcements from the Secretary of State and Dame Louise Casey that 15,000 people have been accommodated by local authorities in response to COVID-19.  You can find this information at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-rough-sleeper-accommodation-survey-data-may-2020.This information is collected from over 300 local authorities nationally.  We are continuing to work with local authorities to understand the work they are doing to help the most vulnerable in our society.

Rough Sleeping: Coronavirus

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment the Government has made of the cost of specialist non-housing support needed by the 15,000 rough sleepers accommodated by the Everybody In initiative in order to prevent those people returning to rough sleeping.

Luke Hall: We have provided £3.2 billion to councils across England to manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be used to provide support to vulnerable people such as rough sleepers. This is in addition to £3.2 million in targeted funding for councils to support vulnerable rough sleepers.Local authorities are responsible for assessing local need and commissioning specialist services, such as alcohol and drug services. This includes providing services for people who experience homelessness and rough sleeping and those who have been supported into emergency accommodation sites.Most local authorities are using their existing locally commissioned drug and alcohol treatment services to provide support in accommodation sites. This support includes harm reduction, prescribing services and managing related health issues like alcohol withdrawal. They are also drawing on wider NHS services to provide mental and physical health support in accommodation sites. Local authorities hold the most up to date information regarding the costs of non-housing support for people they are currently assistingWe are continuing to work closely with local authorities to understand the work they are doing to help the most vulnerable in our society and, as we have been clear, are committed to working to ensure that the needs of these individuals are met and that as few people as possible return to the streets.

Local Government Finance: Coronavirus

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take to help ensure that local authorities do not need to set emergency budgets to reduce services as a result of increased costs and lost revenues during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Government has provided an unprecedented £3.2 billion of additional unringfenced support to local authorities to address the pressures they are facing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is on top of the 4.4 per cent real terms increase in Core Spending Power this year.   Furthermore, as I set out to the House on Monday 15 June, the Secretary of State and I are working closely with ministerial colleagues on the further steps the Government will take as part of a comprehensive plan to ensure councils' financial sustainability over the financial year ahead. Ministers will continue to keep the House informed as these plans develop.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the safety of cladding on high rise buildings in England.

Christopher Pincher: The Government has made clear that building safety is the responsibility of the building owner.Acting on advice from the Expert Panel, the Government has commissioned research to support further understanding of the fire performance of external wall systems and cladding materials :Aluminium Composite Material: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/aluminium-composite-material-claddingHigh Pressure Laminates: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-test-report-mhclg-bs-8414-hpl ; andNon-Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) external wall systems: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-performance-of-cladding-materials-research/non-acm-research-summary.We have published advice (updated in January 2020) to building owners on the actions they should take with regards to external wall systems and managing the safety of buildings of all heights.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to ensure the safety of people who live in high rise buildings; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Pincher: In November 2018, the Government introduced a ban on combustible materials in and on the external walls of certain buildings, including blocks of flats more than 18 metres in height. We have more recently consulted on extending the scope of the ban and we will publish the results in due course.The Government has committed £600 million for the remediation of high-rise residential buildings with unsafe ACM cladding. In March 2020, the £1 billion Building Safety Fund was then announced, aimed at remediating other unsafe cladding types on high-rise residential buildings. For high-rise residential buildings with unsafe ACM cladding, the Government has worked closely with local authorities and Fire and Rescue Services to ensure that interim safety measures, where needed, are in place until the cladding is replaced.We have also published advice from the Independent Expert Advisory Panel on the measures building owners should take to ensure their buildings are safe. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-advice-for-building-owners-including-fire-doors

High Rise Flats: Insulation

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2020 to Question 58821 on High Rise Flats: Insulation, in relation to how many of the 10 buildings, against which the Department is aware of enforcement action having been taken, the Joint Inspection Team provided support to local authorities.

Christopher Pincher: Of those that only had an 'intent' to remediate in December 2019, the Joint Inspection Team provided support to local authorities for enforcement on two of these buildings, resulting in two improvement notices being issued.

Property Development: Isle of Dogs

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department conducted an Equalities Impact Assessment of his decision to grant planning permission for the Westferry Printworks site, PA/18/01877/A1 before Tower Hamlets Council made changes to its Community Infrastructure Levy.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department conducted an Equalities Impact Assessment of his decision to grant planning permission for the Westferry Printworks site, PA/18/01877/A1.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of revenue Tower Hamlets’ Council's new Community Infrastructure Levy would have raised for the public purse with regard to the Westferry Printworks site, PA/18/01877/A1 had he not granted planning permission before changes were made to that Levy.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of his decision to grant planning permission for the Westferry Printworks site, PA/18/01877/A1 on the provision of affordable housing in Tower Hamlets.

Christopher Pincher: The Secretary of State’s Decision Letter of 14 January and the Inspector’s Report, set out the reasons for the decision, including in relation to the Community Infrastructure Levy and the implications of providing the proposed quantum and type of affordable housing.The proposed development would have provided nearly 300 new affordable homes and a brand new school for the local community.

Ministry of Defence

Combined Cadet Force

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the names of the schools that receive funding allocated by his Department for Combined Cadet Forces.

James Heappey: Every school hosting a Combined Cadet Force (CCF) unit receives funding from the Ministry of Defence. The majority of this support is provided indirectly through the supply of equipment, uniforms and stores, and the delivery of summer camps and training activities. In addition, a small monetary grant, with the amount dependant on the number of cadets within the school's unit, is given directly to the school to assist with administration. The list of CCF schools is provided in the attached table.



59183 - Combined Cadet Forces Schools
(Excel SpreadSheet, 31.62 KB)

Cadets

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the Community Cadet Forces centres in each local authority.

James Heappey: There are approximately 3,000 community cadet units across the UK comprising Sea Cadets, the Volunteer Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps. These units are administered and supported in various ways by the single Service cadet HQs. However, locations of cadet units are not recorded by local authority and to determine this data would incur disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Coronavirus

Aaron Bell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the armed forces have been deployed in each (a) local authority area and (b) parliamentary constituency part of the Government's covid-19 response.

James Heappey: The information is not held in the format requested. As of 15 June, our Armed Forces are deployed to support the work of 10 Joint Military Commands (JMCs) and three other teams across the UK, broken down as follows: RegionTotalJMC East447JMC London500JMC North East414JMC North West145JMC Northern Ireland98JMC Scotland361JMC South East437JMC South West323JMC Wales467JMC West Midlands274Logistics Support Team42Standing Joint Command Reserve20Works Group (Engineers)10Total3,538

Veterans: Commonwealth

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance is provided to Commonwealth Service personnel on discharge from the UK armed forces on the steps they must take to regularise their immigration status when seeking to exercise their right to remain in the UK after having served for at least four years; and how that guidance has changed since that right to remain was first granted.

James Heappey: When Commonwealth citizens (and Gurkhas) are enlisted in the UK Armed Forces the Home Office grant them Exempt from Immigration Control status under section 8(4) of the Immigration Act 1971. This is valid for the duration of their Regular Service, and they receive a letter from the Home Office advising them of this and that on discharge they must regularise their UK immigration status or leave the UK. The Home Office has immigration rules specific to the Armed Forces – the Appendix Armed Forces – under which they can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK on discharge if they meet all necessary criteria including having served for a minimum of four years. The Home Office allows applications to be submitted up to 10 weeks before discharge. The Army has produced guidance for Units since 2004 which summarises these immigration rules including the need to regularise immigration status on discharge or leave the UK. Units must also notify the Home Office when a Commonwealth citizen (or Gurkha) is being discharged so their Exempt status can be cancelled, and the individual signs the notification to indicate they understand the need to regularise their status At that point the Home Office will write to the individual to advise them that they have 28 days from days from date of discharge to either regularise their UK immigration status, if they have not already submitted an application, or leave the UK. Although the Guide is regularly updated to reflect any changes to the immigration rules it has always included the requirement for regularising immigration status on discharge and to notify the Home Office. The guidance is used by all three Services. Information is also included within Ministry of Defence and single Service policy documents such as Joint Service Publication 100 – Defence Holistic Transition Policy and the Service Leavers Guide which is issued to all personnel on discharge. These give clear instruction to both the Chain of Command and the individual about their responsibilities.

Navy: Coronavirus

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether outbreaks of covid-19 infection have occurred on (a) Royal Naval and (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels; whether those vessels' deployments have been affected as a result of covid-19 infection; whether naval personnel are kept in barracks for a sufficient period to check for infection with covid-19 before deployment at sea; and what his policy is to minimise the effect of naval personnel embarking on a deployment soon after taking leave in numerous different locations within the UK.

James Heappey: For reasons of operational security, we cannot comment on the number of COVID-19 cases that have occurred on Royal Navy (RN) or Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels. As of 31 May, there have been 45 confirmed cases of Royal Navy Service personnel with COVID-19. No deployments of RN or RFA vessels have been affected as a result of these infections. The RN has a policy on COVID-19 risk mitigation measures, which includes direction on the use of quarantining and COVID-19 testing to minimise the risk of COVID infection onboard deploying RN vessels to as low as reasonably practicable. The nature of these measures depends on the vessel and activity that is being undertaken, and may require personnel to be quarantined ashore in a cabin or onboard the vessel if they display symptoms or have been in contact with others who have displayed symptoms.

Voyager Aircraft: Repairs and Maintenance

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse is of the repainting of the RAF Voyager plane used by senior members of the Government.

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish (a) the cost of, (b) who requested and (c) which Department approved the planned works to RAF Voyager.

Jamie Stone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of repainting RAF Voyager.

Stephen  Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of repainting RAF Voyager; and which Department will fund it.

Stephen  Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which company he plans to contract to re-paint RAF Voyager.

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the proposals to repaint the RAF Voyager aircraft.

Jeremy Quin: The total forecast cost for completing the repaint of the RAF Voyager VIP aircraft (including related costs) is approximately £900,000. The project will be carried out by Marshall Aerospace Defence Group (MADG) in Cambridge. The decision to repaint the VIP Voyager - and approval of a design that best projected Global Britain - was taken on a cross-Government basis, to be funded by the Ministry of Defence.

Annington Homes

Stephen  Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of military homes provided for service people and their families by Annington Homes meet the decent homes standard.

Jeremy Quin: As of 18 June 2020, the Ministry of Defence leased 38,136 Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties from Annington Homes. Of this figure 36,785, (96.46%), meet the UK Government Decent Homes Standard as a minimum. All SFA properties allocated to Service personnel and their families meet Decent Homes Standard as a minimum.

Annington Homes

Stephen  Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with representatives of Annington Homes on the changes in cost for military home rental ahead of the first rent review in 2021.

Jeremy Quin: Ministry of Defence officials engaged with Annington Homes Ltd on the issue of rent payable for the lease of the Service Family Accommodation estate. The parties could not agree the rent, therefore the matter is now subject to a formal arbitration process, with an arbitral panel chaired by Lord Neuberger, former President of the Supreme Court, appointed by the parties. An initial determination on the first sites selected for arbitration is expected later in 2020.

Annington Homes

Stephen  Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cases there are of military homes owned by Annington Homes that are awaiting repairs.

Jeremy Quin: As of 18 June 2020, 3,584 Annington Homes properties occupied in England and Wales (of 38,136 leased) were awaiting reported response repair action. The Ministry of Defence provides a 24/7 prioritised response repair service for all Service Family Accommodation in the UK. These properties awaiting repair action will be attended to in line with the contractual timeframes for repairs categorised as Emergency, Critical, Urgent or Routine. In the month of May 2020, 95.93% of all repairs reported were responded to within their required timeframes and either met or exceeded their performance targets.

Sentinel Aircraft

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to fill the overland surveillance capability gap after the retirement of the R-1 Sentinel.

Jeremy Quin: I refer the right hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth South on 11 June 2020 to Question 56145.



56145 - Ministry of Defence - Sentinel Aircraft
(Word Document, 13.85 KB)

Military Aircraft

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department made of the cost to the public purse of (a) support, (b) infrastructure and (c) training costs prior to the procurement of (i) P-8 Poseidon and (ii) E-7 Wedgetail.

Jeremy Quin: It is taking longer than expected to gather the information needed to answer the hon. Member's question, and I will write to him shortly.

Department for International Trade

Department for International Trade: Buildings

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May to Question 43779, in how many multi-hub locations employees of her Department are working together with employees of another department or agency in London managed by the Government Property Agency; what those other departments or agencies are; and in which locations that work is taking place.

Greg Hands: I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 54314 on 12th June 2020.

Whisky: Scotland

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will make her policy to maintain the protections granted in the 2018 Economic Partnership Agreement in relation to Scotch Whisky exports to Japan.

Greg Hands: The UK and Japanese governments started negotiating a UK-Japan Free Trade Agreement on 9 June. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will be used as the basis and may be enhanced in areas of mutual interest. Regarding the protection of the Scotch Whisky Geographical Indication (GI) in Japan, the UK’s published negotiating objectives for trade negotiations with Japan state that “the UK will secure protections for UK GIs”. The UK Government recognises the high value of GIs to both the communities that produce them and as illustrations of the wide range of quality British products enjoyed around the world. Regarding tariffs, UK exporters will continue to be able to export Whisky to Japan duty free as Japan applies no tariffs to their Whisky imports regardless of which country the imports come from.

Trade Agreements: Staffordshire

Jonathan Gullis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of Free Trade Agreements in (a) levelling up communities and (b) accelerating an industrial revival in (i) Stoke-on-Trent and (ii) Staffordshire.

Greg Hands: Securing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) will be a key driver in levelling-up the UK. The potential benefits of FTAs include better jobs, higher wages, more choice and lower prices for UK consumers and businesses.Our scoping assessments show that the West Midlands could benefit from future FTAs with the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Stoke-on-Trent exported £458m and imported £696m worth of goods globally in 2018. Similarly, Staffordshire exported £4.6bn and imported £5.6bn worth of goods globally in 2018.

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-pacific Partnership: Stoke On Trent

Jonathan Gullis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the potential economic benefit to Stoke-on-Trent joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Greg Hands: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 22 June 2020.The correct answer should have been:

Joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would open up new opportunities for our exporters in strategically important sectors, helping to support an industrial revival in the UK. Trade with members of CPTPP already benefits the region. In 2018, Shropshire and Staffordshire exported around £431m worth of goods to CPTPP countries and imported around £801m worth of goods from CPTPP countries[1]. In 2019, the West Midlands as a whole exported over £2.4 billion worth of goods to CPTPP member countries, representing around 8 per cent of the region’s exports. The West Midlands imported over £1.9 billion worth of goods from CPTPP member countries, representing just over 5% of goods imports to the region[2]. Before applying, we will publish an outline approach and a scoping assessment setting out our negotiating objectives and the economic impact and benefits of accession. At that stage, we will provide a formal response to the government’s public consultation on the UK potentially seeking accession to CPTPP, outlining how our decisions and approach to accession have been informed by the submissions received from members of the public, businesses and civil society organisations. The input we have received through this consultation continues to inform our preparations. [1] Source: HMRC Regional Trade in Goods Statistics, disaggregated by smaller geographical areas, NUTS2 level (released November 2019). Note data on regional trade with Brunei in unavailable.[2] Source: HMRC Regional Trade in Goods Statistics (April to June 2020 release). Note data on regional trade with Brunei in unavailable.Joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would open up new opportunities for our exporters in strategically important sectors, helping to support an industrial revival in the UK. Trade with members of CPTPP already benefits the region. In 2018, Shropshire and Staffordshire exported around £431m worth of goods to CPTPP countries and imported around £801m worth of goods from CPTPP countries[1]. In 2019, the West Midlands as a whole exported over £2.4 billion worth of goods to CPTPP member countries, representing around 8 per cent of the region’s exports. The West Midlands imported over £1.9 billion worth of goods from CPTPP member countries, representing just over 5% of goods imports to the region[2]. If the UK Government decides to formally apply for accession, we will publish an Outline Approach and a Scoping Assessment setting out our negotiating objectives and the potential benefits of accession, to the UK and the UK’s nations and regions. [1] Source: HMRC Regional Trade in Goods Statistics, disaggregated by smaller geographical areas, NUTS2 level (released November 2019). Note data on regional trade with Brunei in unavailable.[2] Source: HMRC Regional Trade in Goods Statistics (April to June 2020 release). Note data on regional trade with Brunei in unavailable.

Greg Hands: Joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would open up new opportunities for our exporters in strategically important sectors, helping to support an industrial revival in the UK. Trade with members of CPTPP already benefits the region. In 2018, Shropshire and Staffordshire exported around £431m worth of goods to CPTPP countries and imported around £801m worth of goods from CPTPP countries[1]. In 2019, the West Midlands as a whole exported over £2.4 billion worth of goods to CPTPP member countries, representing around 8 per cent of the region’s exports. The West Midlands imported over £1.9 billion worth of goods from CPTPP member countries, representing just over 5% of goods imports to the region[2]. Before applying, we will publish an outline approach and a scoping assessment setting out our negotiating objectives and the economic impact and benefits of accession. At that stage, we will provide a formal response to the government’s public consultation on the UK potentially seeking accession to CPTPP, outlining how our decisions and approach to accession have been informed by the submissions received from members of the public, businesses and civil society organisations. The input we have received through this consultation continues to inform our preparations. [1] Source: HMRC Regional Trade in Goods Statistics, disaggregated by smaller geographical areas, NUTS2 level (released November 2019). Note data on regional trade with Brunei in unavailable.[2] Source: HMRC Regional Trade in Goods Statistics (April to June 2020 release). Note data on regional trade with Brunei in unavailable.Joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would open up new opportunities for our exporters in strategically important sectors, helping to support an industrial revival in the UK. Trade with members of CPTPP already benefits the region. In 2018, Shropshire and Staffordshire exported around £431m worth of goods to CPTPP countries and imported around £801m worth of goods from CPTPP countries[1]. In 2019, the West Midlands as a whole exported over £2.4 billion worth of goods to CPTPP member countries, representing around 8 per cent of the region’s exports. The West Midlands imported over £1.9 billion worth of goods from CPTPP member countries, representing just over 5% of goods imports to the region[2]. If the UK Government decides to formally apply for accession, we will publish an Outline Approach and a Scoping Assessment setting out our negotiating objectives and the potential benefits of accession, to the UK and the UK’s nations and regions. [1] Source: HMRC Regional Trade in Goods Statistics, disaggregated by smaller geographical areas, NUTS2 level (released November 2019). Note data on regional trade with Brunei in unavailable.[2] Source: HMRC Regional Trade in Goods Statistics (April to June 2020 release). Note data on regional trade with Brunei in unavailable.

Import Duties

Jonathan Gullis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the effect on consumers of the proposals for a UK Global Tariff.

Greg Hands: Liberalisation is typically beneficial for consumers. Consumers should benefit from the removal of tariffs on certain products that we do not produce, or do not produce much of in the UK. Removing these tariffs may lower cost pressures for UK households and businesses. The UK Global Tariff might expand consumer choice, driving competitive prices for households. Tariffs are a tax, therefore the Government will publish a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) alongside the legislation, as is standard practice. More analysis will be available in the TIIN when it is published.

Ceramics: Manufacturing Industries

Jonathan Gullis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of a UK global tariff on the viability of UK ceramics manufacturers.

Greg Hands: In setting tariffs on ceramics goods, we have reflected carefully on the interests of UK businesses, manufacturers and consumers as well as to the views expressed through the UK’s public consultation conducted in February 2020. Tariffs have been retained for most ceramic products. For example, tariffs on table and kitchenware are being retained at 12%. Tariffs are a tax, therefore the Government will publish a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) alongside the secondary legislation, which will be made under Section 8 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018. This is standard practice. More analysis will be available in the TIIN when it is published.

Trade Agreements: Food

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to her letter to MPs on food standards and future trade deals dated 5 June 2020, what assessment her Department has made of its ability to exercise power over production methods and standards overseas including on (a) environmental protection, (b) animal welfare and (c) pesticides; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: The approach of HM Government to food standards in trade deals is clear. We remain firmly committed to upholding our high environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards. Having left the EU, we will decide how we set and maintain our own laws, standards and regulations. We will remain global leaders in environmental protection and animal welfare standards, maintaining the high-quality of our produce for consumers at home and overseas.The United Kingdom’s food standards, for both domestic production and imports, are overseen by the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland. These agencies provide independent advice to HM Government and the devolved administration in Scotland respectively. They will continue to do so in order to ensure that all food imports comply with the United Kingdom’s high standards. Decisions on our standards are a matter for the United Kingdom and will be made separately from any trade agreement. HM Government will stand firm in trade negotiations to make sure that any future trade deals live up to the values of farmers and consumers across the United Kingdom.

Department for International Trade: Carers

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will place in the Library a list of the workplace benefits that her Department provides to its staff with caring responsibilities.

Greg Hands: The Department for International Trade is committed to supporting those members of our workforce with caring responsibilities. Building a diverse and inclusive department continues to be a key priority. For carers specifically we have adopted the Civil Service Carers Passport and aligned our policies to the Civil Service Carers Charter developed by Cabinet Office. We also have policies to support flexible working and provide access to special leave and career breaks. All employees have access to our Employee Assistance Programme and we have active employee networks for carers.A library deposit has been made with a list of workplace benefits provided to the department’s staff with caring responsibilities.

Trade Agreements: USA

Jamie Stone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she has had on food safety and standards with her US counterpart during the UK-US trade negotiations.

Greg Hands: As part of negotiations with the United States, the Secretary of State remains in regular contact with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. From 5-15 May the UK and U.S. conducted the first round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement. The second UK-US Free Trade Agreement negotiating round began on 15 June and will take place over two weeks. The UK is clear that it will not compromise on its high standards of food safety and animal welfare. Our position was restated by the Secretary of State for International Trade and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in a letter to MPs on 6 June 2020.

Contracts: Developing Countries

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is able to take to uphold the UK's global reputation as a reliable market as a result of UK companies reportedly ignoring contracts with suppliers in developing countries.

Greg Hands: The Government is engaging with businesses in the UK and in developing countries to understand the huge challenges they are facing in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic. The UK is also providing support to Business Fights Poverty to accelerate a global learning process to enable businesses to support vulnerable workers in global supply chains.

Department for International Trade: Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will publish the criteria her Department plans to use for prioritising Official Development Assistance spending in the event of a decrease in GNI.

Greg Hands: To tackle poverty and advance our Global Britain objectives, the Department for International Trade (DIT) takes evidence-based spending decisions and maintains high standards of programme delivery that are consistent with Her Majesty’s Governments (HMG) best practice.

Department for International Trade: Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department's share of the Official Development Assistance will be reduced in the event of a decrease in GNI.

Greg Hands: The UK has a legal commitment to spend 0.7% of its Gross National Income (GNI) each year on Official Development Assistance (ODA). Since this commitment is linked to the size of the economy, the level of ODA spend is likely to decrease this year. HM Treasury allocates ODA budgets to departments and is responsible for decisions on changes to these.

Overseas Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department is signing new funding agreements for projects from the Official Development Assistance budget.

Greg Hands: The Government reviews the Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding it allocates to projects on a regular basis in order to ensure delivery of its commitment to spend 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) on ODA. The Department for International Trade has no current plans to enter into new funding agreements utilising the UK’s ODA.

Overseas Aid

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when she last met the Secretary of State for International Development to discuss Official Development Assistance spending.

Greg Hands: The Secretary of State for International Trade and the Secretary of State for International Development meet at the Cabinet to discuss a broad range of issues. Officials from the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Department for International Development (DFID) meet regularly to discuss Official Development Assistance (ODA), and provide updates to Ministers.

Supermarkets: Brazil

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of Brazil’s proposed new legislation (PL 2633/2020)  on the ability of UK supermarkets to trade with Brazil.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: I am aware of the proposed legislation to which the Hon. Lady has drawn attention. It will not, in itself, affect the legal capacity of British companies to trade with Brazil, but I am aware of concerns raised by a number of supermarkets over the environmental implications. HM Government is concerned about deforestation in the Amazon and is working closely with Brazil to combat illegal deforestation. We have already committed £200m through international climate finance programmes that are aimed at tackling this issue. Trade does not have to come at the expense of the environment. We are working closely with international partners and British businesses to grow trade in legal, sustainable products.

Trade Agreements: Dispute Resolution

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ruling out investor-state dispute settlement provisions in future trade agreements.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: The precise details of any future Free Trade Agreement are a matter for formal negotiations, and we would not seek to pre-empt these discussions.HM Government recognises the important role that Investment protections with Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) can play in protecting British investors abroad, including pensioners across the country through their pension funds and SMEs. Where ISDS is included in future agreements, we will seek to ensure fair outcomes of claims and high ethical standards for arbitrators, with increased transparency and efficiency of proceedings.

Trade Remedies Authority: Public Appointments

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that there are representatives of the devolved Administrations on the Trade Remedies Authority.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) Board will be crucial to safeguarding the TRA’s impartiality and making sure that it acts in the interest of all parts of the United Kingdom. We are engaging with the devolved administrations, in line with HM Government’s commitments during the passage of the Trade Bill in 2017-18, and recently sought their proposals on recruiting TRA Board Members with knowledge of the United Kingdom as a whole, a broad range of skills and diverse experience. However, it is essential that members are appointed on merit, rather than due to their affiliations with any particular part of the United Kingdom or special interest group.

Manufacturing Industries: Government Assistance

Lee Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether Government bailouts during the covid-19 outbreak of foreign automotive and aerospace companies located in the UK will be conditional upon those companies increasing their supply chain spending to UK manufacturing companies.

Graham Stuart: The Government has put in place unprecedented levels of support to help all businesses get through this crisis. Separate to this package of support, but to ensure the UK has resilient and diverse supply chains, the Department for International Trade is leading work across Government (Project Defend) to look at our trading relationships with a range of international partners. As part of this work, we have consulted widely with stakeholders across the advanced manufacturing sectors. We continue to champion free trade and the benefits that brings, across the economy, and to the automotive and aerospace sectors in the UK.

Women and Equalities

Gay Conversion Therapy

Afzal Khan: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer on 5 June 2020 to Question 52328 on Gay Conversion Therapy, when the research into the scope of practices and experiences of people subjected to conversion therapy was begun; when that research is expected to conclude; and if she will publish the findings.

Kemi Badenoch: In January 2019, the Government commissioned research to improve our understanding of evidence on the practice, experience, and effect of conversion therapy. We received a draft of the report on Friday 12th June 2020. Once we have reviewed the findings, we intend to publish the report.

Ethnic Groups: Equality

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Race Disparity Audit, whether her Department has undertaken an impact assessment of the explain or change approach adopted by the Race Disparity Unit when working with the Home Office; and what changes to the Home Office that unit recommended as a result of data that it has gathered since its inception.

Kemi Badenoch: ‘Explain or Change’ was a short-term communications campaign that was launched in 2018, on the one year anniversary of the Race Disparity Audit. The campaign concluded in June last year, and the Race Disparity Unit continues to work with other Government Departments, to address disparities highlighted by the Audit. This includes work with the Home Office to improve trust between police forces and the local communities they serve, increasing diversity in the police workforces themselves, and developing a new strategy to act on and prevent hate crime.

Gay Conversion Therapy

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what estimate she has made of the number of LGBTQ+ people being given conversion therapy in 2020 in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Kemi Badenoch: According to the Government’s 2017 National LGBT Survey which surveyed over 100,000 LGBT people across the UK, 2% of respondents said they had undergone conversion therapy, and a further 5% of respondents said they had been offered it.The Government takes this issue very seriously and fundamentally disagrees with any attempt to forcibly change someone’s sexuality. I am working with colleagues across Government on this issue, and we will outline plans to end its practice in due course.

Department for Transport

Government Car Service

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Government Car Service departmental pool cars are allocated to each Department; and what the fuel type is of each car.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The table below lists the number of Departmental Pool Cars allocated to each Government Department including fuel type:  DepartmentNumber of CarsFuel TypeCabinet Office3Battery ElectricCabinet Office3DieselCabinet Office1PetrolBEIS2Petrol HybridBEIS1Battery ElectricBEIS1PetrolMHCLG4Petrol HybridDCMS1Battery ElectricDCMS2Petrol HybridDCMS1PetrolDEFRA1Petrol HybridDEFRA1PetrolDFE1Battery ElectricDFE1PetrolDFID1Battery ElectricDFID1Petrol HybridDfT3Petrol HybridDfT1Battery ElectricDHSC2Petrol HybridDHSC1PetrolDHSC1Battery ElectricHMT1Battery ElectricHMT1PetrolHome Office4Petrol HybridAGO1Battery ElectricAGO1Petrol HybridDIT1Battery ElectricDIT1PetrolDWP2Diesel With the support of DfT, the Government Car Service (GCS) is replacing its fleet with Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) as vehicles become due for replacement. Currently 48% of the GCS fleet is now either battery electric, petrol/electric hybrid or hydrogen, and we are actively looking at options to accelerate this transition.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the (a) names of the representatives on and (b) terms of reference for the aviation restart and recovery expert group.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what responsibilities does the aviation restart and recovery expert group have in relation to ensuring that the future of UK aviation is aligned with (a) carbon budgets and the Climate Change Act 2008 and (b) the 1.5 degree temperature goal of the Paris Climate Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst: The aviation sector is important to the UK economy and the government recognises the challenging times facing the sector as a result of COVID-19. The Expert Steering Group (ESG) was set up to bring together all the interested parties from across government and industry to co-produce solutions where possible. Membership of the ESG compromises of a range of industry experts and relevant Government departments. Working closely with trade bodies such as Airport Operators Association and Airlines UK, DfT agreed the following membership comprising of representatives from across the sector along with relevant Government departments: SectorOrganisationAirlines ​BA/ IAGEasyJetJet2LoganairTUIAirports​AGS (Aberdeen, Glasgow & Southampton)CWL (Cardiff)City of Derry AirportGatwickHeathrowMAG (Manchester, Stansted & East Midlands)RCA (Bournemouth, Exeter, Norwich)​Ground Handlers ​Swissport​Regulator​CAA​Air Traffic Management ​NATS​ACLIndustry/Trade AssociationsADS groupAssociation of International Courier and Express ServicesAirlines UKAirport Operators AssociationBoard of Airline Representatives in the UKBritish Business General Aviation AssociationAssociation of British Travel AgentsInternational Air Transport AssociationUnionsTUC / UniteOther Government Departments ​Border ForceDepartment for Business, Energy and Industrial StrategyWelsh Government - Department for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs ​Department for Health and Social CareHM Inspector of Health & SafetyDepartment for International TradeDepartment for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland)Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland)Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeHM TreasuryPublic Health EnglandTransport Scotland Terms of Reference The initial focus of the group is to act as a representative advisory group on restarting the aviation industry. To this end, the group has worked to produce health guidance for the sector, which was published on 11 June. The group will also identify the key operational requirements for restart, when and how restart will happen, and how to build and maintain consumer confidence. The second phase of the group’s work will focus on recovery of the aviation sector. This work will include a coherent plan to support the sector’s recovery. Achievement of Government climate change objectives will be a key part of this recovery work. Membership of the ESG will be reviewed to reflect this second phase of work.

Bus Services: Concessions

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his letter to the Mayor on London of 3 June 2020 on ending of free travel for under 18 year olds in London, if he will place in the Library a copy of the academic research referred to in concluding that young people using the free travel concession made up half of all bus users during the morning rush hour, many of them for extremely short journeys which would not have been made had they not been free.

Rachel Maclean: The Government set a number of conditions alongside the funding provided to Transport for London to reduce demand on public transport so that those who need to use services can do so safely. The temporary suspension of free travel for under 18s in London is one of those measures. The academic research to which the Secretary of State referred in his letter of 3 June 2020 is a study called ‘On the buses: a mixed-method evaluation of the impact of free bus travel for young people on the public health’ (full reference below). This makes clear that before the crisis, young people using the free travel concession made up half of all bus users during the morning rush hour, many of them for extremely short journeys which would not have been made had they not been free. Research referenceGreen J, Steinbach R, Jones A, et al.Southampton (UK): NIHR Journals Library; 2014 Febhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK263964/

Official Cars

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) make and (b) fuel type is of cars allocated to each Minister.

Chris Heaton-Harris: In 2012, the Government Car Service introduced the Departmental Pool Car Service where cars and drivers are allocated to Government Departments as a shared resource. This service is managed by each individual Department to provide better utilisation; cars are no longer allocated to individual ministers.

Driving Tests: Coronavirus

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he plans to resume driving tests at all venues that were in use prior to the covid-19 lockdown.

Rachel Maclean: As the health and safety of staff and customers is key, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is working closely with the Department for Transport to prepare for a safe return to testing. It will announce details of resumption of testing in due course.

Airlines: Coronavirus

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2020 to Question 57393, on Airlines: Coronavirus, whether an airline company has reached the point of all avenues being exhausted (a) before or (b) after proposing a high volume of redundancies.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Department for Transport is in regular contact with airlines, airports and unions to understand the impact that COVID-19 is having on the sector and its workers. We expect companies to pursue all possible actions to preserve cash and maximise liquidity, including engaging with shareholders, lenders and the markets, and utilising all available assets and facilities. However, we do not comment on discussions held with individual companies, as this information is commercially sensitive.

Driving: Licensing

Gerald Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason there are delays in the reissuing of driving licences by the DVLA to (a) people aged over 70 and (b) in cases where licences have been suspended for health reasons which are preventing those people from driving.

Rachel Maclean: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) online services, including renewals for drivers over 70 are available and have continued to operate as normal throughout the pandemic. DVLA is currently working with reduced staff on its site in Swansea to meet social distancing requirements. Paper applications are therefore taking longer to process as they must be dealt with in person.  As healthcare professionals are rightly focused on their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the DVLA is experiencing delays where information is needed from medical professionals in order to make a licensing decision where a driver has declared a medical condition.

Driving Instruction: Coronavirus

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance he has issued on when driving instructors can return to work as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Rachel Maclean: As the health and safety of staff and customers is key, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is working closely with the Department for Transport to prepare for a safe return to testing. It will announce details of resumption in due course.In the meantime, approved driving instructors (ADI) should continue to limit driving lessons to critical workers who are preparing for an emergency driving test.The DVSA’s priority remains to protect the public and save lives. Driving lessons and tests have not yet been able to restart because the risk of transmission of the virus in vehicles is higher.On 15 June 2020, the DVSA’s Chief Executive wrote to all ADIs updating them on the planning it is doing to help return to life that is as close to normal as possible, as quickly and fairly as possible, in a way that avoids a second peak of infections. That letter can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-letter

Railways: Coronavirus

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support the Government has provided to rail component manufacturing companies affected by a reduction in orders as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Heaton-Harris: My Department is engaging closely with the rail supply industry in order to understand its issues and ensure that it remains robust and able to support the continued provision of essential rail services during these challenging times. The Chancellor has announced unprecedented support for business, including manufacturing companies in the rail supply chain, to protect them against the current economic emergency. These measures include the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, deferral of VAT payments and £30 billion of government-backed and guaranteed business loans. In addition, last week the Cabinet Office published new procurement guidance (Procurement Policy Note 04/20) on the Recovery and Transition from Covid. This note builds on recommended measures for supplier relief to ensure service continuity during and after the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Railways: Manufacturing Industries

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to support rail component manufacturing companies in transitioning to manufacturing components for newer train fleets.

Chris Heaton-Harris: While the supply of components to build new trains is ultimately a matter for the manufacturers, government encourages manufacturers to use the UK supply chain where possible. Through our engagement process we stress to the rail industry that it should take every opportunity to make use of local components wherever practical, and support businesses across the country. Indeed, Covid-19 has highlighted the value of resilient local supply chains and that it is whole-life value rather than lowest upfront cost that matters.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority on enforcement action to ensure that airlines comply with their obligations to passengers when issuing refunds for cancelled flights.

Kelly Tolhurst: My department works closely with the Civil Aviation Authority and it has regular discussions with them about the range of issues that have arisen from the COVID-19 crisis – including issues relating to enforcement action in respect of refund payments. We recognise the need to take a balanced and proportionate approach to enforcement during this crisis, recognising the challenges businesses are facing, but have been clear that where the consumer asks for a cash refund then this must be paid. We have also been clear of the need to review this situation.

Railways: Coronavirus

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has required train operators with franchise agreements with his Department to provide (a) weekly and (b) periodic management accounts showing financial performance in light of the additional resources provided to train operators by the Government in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) continue existing Franchise Agreement obligations to require train operators to provide periodic management accounts to the Department. An equivalent obligation also applies to the two operators that are in direct public ownership. The management accounts include a periodic profit and loss account, balance sheet and cash flow statement. The EMAs have also introduced a formal process of periodic budget reviews to enable additional financial scrutiny of operators.

Railways: Franchises

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to undertake a review of the future financial (a) position and (b) structure of each train operating company that holds a franchise agreement with his Department.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department is reviewing its approach to the contractual arrangements following the period in which the Emergency Measures Agreements apply. Work is underway to determine the most effective approach once this period ends. This work will take account of the impact of COVID-19 on demand for passenger rail travel in both the short and long term, and the associated economic and financial impacts on the railway. The Department continues to monitor the financial position of all train operators to ensure to continuity of passenger services.

Railways: Franchises

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether each train company with a franchise agreement has been asked by his Department to provide information on its (a) balance sheet and (b) financing structure and policy.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) continue existing Franchise Agreement obligations to require train operators to provide periodic management accounts to the Department. An equivalent obligation also applies to the two operators that are in direct public ownership. The management accounts include a periodic profit and loss account, balance sheet and cash flow statement.

Railways: Coronavirus

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on train companies that received additional Government funding during 2020-21 paying dividends to shareholders.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) place a number of new restrictions on operator’s financial transactions in recognition of the risk that the government bears while they are in place. This includes restrictions on the payment of dividends to shareholders during the EMA term.

Public Transport: Exhaust Emissions

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that could be created in (a) research and development, (b) manufacturing and (c) other sectors as a result of Government investment in low emission forms of public transport.

Rachel Maclean: The Department has not made an estimate of the number of jobs in research and development, manufacturing and other sectors that could be created across all forms of low emission public transport as a result of Government investment. However, we recognize that transport has a key role to play in the economy reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions and we are developing an ambitious plan to accelerate the de-carbonisation of transport. In February, the Government announced plans for investment in 4,000 zero emission buses, as part of a £5 billion funding package for buses and cycling. This investment supports the Government's decarbonisation plans and the bus sector and will help to stimulate a green economic recovery from COVID-19. There are a number of UK-based bus manufacturing companies well-placed to benefit from this investment. The recent £48m Ultra Low Emission Bus competition allocated 88% of funding to UK companies. The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) has also designed and funded a series of R&D competitions with Innovate UK, focusing on demonstrating low and zero emission road transport technology, strengthening UK industrial and supply chain capability. These projects include public transport applications. For example, OLEV has funded a project to develop a new, highly efficient, zero emission bus with lower total cost of ownership and maximisation of passenger numbers. For rail transport, the use of electrification and new technologies to decarbonise the railway will create long-term employment opportunities, and previous electrification projects have supported hundreds of UK jobs.

Public Transport: Staff

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people employed by (a) public rail, (b) tram, (c) bus and (d) ferry operators.

Chris Heaton-Harris: Based the ONS’s Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES), in 2018, there were 52 thousand people employed in interurban rail passenger transport. There were 19 thousand people employed in urban and suburban rail passenger transport (including underground and metro). There were 113 thousand people employed in other urban, suburban or metropolitan passenger transport (excluding taxi operators). There were 7 thousand people employed in sea and coastal water transport.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Pakistan: Christianity

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Pakistani counterpart on releasing the Christian prisoners of conscience (a) Shagufta Kausar and (b) Shafqat Emmanuel detained in that country.

Nigel Adams: We continue to actively monitor the case of Shagufta Kausar and Shafqat Emmanuel who remain in detention in Pakistan. We understand that their hearing has been rescheduled to 22 June. We remain deeply concerned about reports of discrimination against the Christian community and other religious minorities in Pakistan.We regularly raise at a senior level the issue of the blasphemy laws with the authorities in Pakistan. In Pakistan and elsewhere these laws have targeted Muslims and non-Muslims. The UK Government condemns any instance where the content or application of blasphemy legislation encourages or justifies violence or discrimination, or causes a violation of a person's Human Rights. The British High Commissioner to Pakistan met the Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights on 20 January and raised issues surrounding blasphemy and the death penalty, which the UK remains firmly opposed to in all circumstances. In February, the Minister for South Asia, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, raised the UK's concerns about the situation for prisoners in detention under trial in Pakistan, particularly for blasphemy cases. Most recently, Lord Ahmad raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the death penalty in Pakistan by letter with Dr Mazari on 5 June. In addition, The British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner CMG, met with Dr Mazari and raised our concerns about Freedom of Religion or Belief and the death penalty on 8 June.

Hong Kong: National Security

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he plans to have with representatives of HSBC and Standard Chartered on recent statements of support from both companies for the introduction by China of new national security legislation for Hong Kong.

Nigel Adams: Holding answer received on 15 June 2020



The UK Government speaks regularly with international financial services firms about a range of issues. It is for individual companies to make their own judgements. We have made our own position very clear on China's proposal to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong.This proposal undermines the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework, under which Hong Kong is guaranteed a high degree of autonomy with executive, legislative and independent judicial powers. If China proceeds it would be in direct conflict with its obligations under the Joint Declaration

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Carers

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff in his Department had caring responsibilities in each of the last five years.

Nigel Adams: From the 2019 Civil Service People Survey, 2,855 employees in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office stated that they had caring responsibilities. This is from 11,466 respondents (85% of the organisation). Data on caring responsibilities previous to 2019 is not held centrally and to compile it would incur disproportionate cost.

Religious Freedom

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department provides to projects (a) with and (b) for religious communities facing discrimination throughout the world.

Nigel Adams: Since 2018, the FCO has allocated more than £1 million for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) projects through the Magna Carta Fund for human rights. This included projects to combat intolerance and encourage respect among individuals of different faiths, beliefs and those of no belief. Following the Bishop of Truro's independent Review of FCO Support for Persecuted Christians, we also launched the John Bunyan Fund for FoRB, through which we funded 15 research projects that looked at the challenges facing different communities, including Christians, Yazidis and Humanists. John Bunyan Fund projects also looked at cross-cutting issues such as migration and the double vulnerability experienced by women from minority faith backgrounds. Programme funding allocations for financial year 2020-2021 are yet to be confirmed.

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what debt recovery agency his Department plans to refer debts relating to emergency repatriation loans to in the event that they have not been repaid within six months.

Nigel Adams: British nationals who are overseas and wish to return to the UK, but cannot afford travel costs and have no other options for getting funds to return home, may apply for an emergency loan from the Government as a last resort.Those eligible must sign an Undertaking to Repay (UTR) in which they agree to repay the loan within 6 months. Loan recipients are unable to renew their passport until they repay the loan in full. If loan recipients do not repay the loan or set up a repayment plan with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) within 6 months, their passport may be cancelled, and their details passed to Indesser, a cross Government debt management service. The FCO will always work with British nationals to agree flexible repayment plans tailored to individual circumstances. We will not cancel the passports of those actively seeking to repay their loan. All loans are interest free.

Nigeria: Human Rights

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of Operation Safe Corridor in Nigeria on human rights standards in that country.

James Duddridge: We are concerned by allegations of human rights abuses in Amnesty International's recent report, We Dried Our Tears. The British High Commissioner has raised the report's findings with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, calling for a full investigation into the allegations and prosecution of any individuals found to have committed abuses in military detention facilities. The UK Government does not provide any support to the military detention facilities mentioned. The UK Government does not provide funding directly to the Government of Nigeria.We are also concerned by criticisms in the report of Operation Safe Corridor. The programme is run by the Federal Government of Nigeria and is intended to provide defectors from Boko Haram with a voluntary way to disarm and reintegrate with society through de-radicalisation, psychosocial support and livelihood training. By providing a way to disengage from conflict, these programmes are an essential part of peacebuilding, but they must be fit for purpose and conducted in a way that fully respects human rights.The UK, alongside the US and EU, provides funding to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to assist in the reintegration element of the Operation Safe Corridor. All UK Government programme spend is subject to regular monitoring and review. We are urgently following up points raised in the report with IOM, in particular in relation to the process for screening participants, the conditions in which they are detained and the timeline for rehabilitation. IOM have assured us that no children are currently enrolled. The UK's position on human rights is clear: they are universal and must apply equally to all people. The UK will continue to call on all parties to the conflict in North East Nigeria to respect human rights and abide by international humanitarian and human rights law.

Ethiopia: Dams

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether officials in his Department have had discussions with their (a) Egyptian, (b) Sudanese and (c) Ethiopian counterparts on the Grand Renaissance Dam.

James Duddridge: We are aware of reports on the ongoing dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. We continue to urge all parties involved to come to an agreement and to avoid taking any unilateral action. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry on these terms on 8 June, as did the Minister for Africa with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu on 20 May. We welcome the resumption of talks between the Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt to work towards a peaceful resolution.

Department for International Development: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received from (a) Ambassadors and (b) other stakeholders on the merging of his Department and the Department for International Development.

James Cleverly: We will engage closely with interested stakeholders in the weeks and months to come as we work to create a new department, which will unite our development expertise and first class diplomatic service to deliver in the national interest and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Department for International Development

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost of merging the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.

James Cleverly: We will implement these changes in the most cost effective way possible. While we anticipate there will be cost savings in the long term as a result of using our resources more effectively and efficiently, it is not the primary goal of the merger of these two Departments. This is primarily about bringing together our international efforts so we can maximise the UK's influence around the world. By aligning our efforts, the merger will maximise our influence and expertise and ensure we are in the best position to confront the challenges that lie ahead. This will strengthen our ability to lead the world's efforts to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and allow us to seize the opportunities ahead, as we prepare to take on the G7 presidency and host COP26 next year.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Overseas Aid

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the costs of rebranding and renaming the proposed Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will count towards the spending target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income for Official Development Assistance.

James Cleverly: We will make the change in the most cost-effective way possible and set out full details in due course. Spending 0.7 percent of our national income on aid is enshrined in law and the UK continues to abide by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee rules for aid. We anticipate that in the long term the merger may bring efficiency savings to the cost of administering the aid budget, but that's not the primary goal of the merger, which is about uniting our international efforts so we can maximise the UK's influence around the world.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what date he expects the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to assume the functions of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development.

James Cleverly: Work will begin immediately on the merger and the new department - the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - will be formally established in early September under the leadership of the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK citizens are stranded in (a) Spain and (b) Europe as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Nigel Adams: Since the outbreak in Wuhan, we estimate that over 1.3 million people have returned to the UK via commercial routes - the majority supported by our work to keep vital routes open. We have now brought home over 38,000 people on 186 special charter flights organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, from 57 countries and territories. We believe the vast majority of British travellers seeking to return to the UK - and who don't have commercial options - have now done so. The welfare of British nationals remains our top priority. We remain committed to ensuring that British travellers around the globe are able to return and that commercial routes are maintained.At the current time, there remain commercial options to return to the UK from Spain and most countries in Europe. Our Embassy in Madrid have been working closely with the Government of Spain, airlines and other travel providers to keep vital routes open and help bring back British travellers to the UK. Our consular team continues to work around the clock to provide support, advice and information to British travellers in Spain. Our travel advice and social media pages are also regularly updated to ensure that those wishing to return are aware of further developments.Through our embassies, and a dedicated central team, we are continuing to monitor whether there are more British travellers abroad seeking to return home immediately, how many, where they are located, whether there are commercial routes available to them and whether support is required.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 16 June 2020 on Global Britain, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of merging the Department of International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to create a new department, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

James Cleverly: We will implement these changes in the most cost effective way possible. While we anticipate there will be cost savings in the long term as a result of using our resources more effectively and efficiently, it is not the primary goal of the merger of these two Departments. This is primarily about bringing together our international efforts so we can maximise the UK's influence around the world. By aligning our efforts, the merger will maximise our influence and expertise and ensure we are in the best position to confront the challenges that lie ahead. This will strengthen our ability to lead the world's efforts to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and allow us to seize the opportunities ahead, as we prepare to take on the G7 presidency and host COP26 next year.

Israeli Settlements: Companies

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2020 to Question 55878 on Israeli Settlements: Companies, what assessment he has made of the applicability of United Nations Security Council Resolution 465 to those companies.

James Cleverly: The UK supports existing UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs), including UNSCR 465, and will do so until an agreement is negotiated by the parties. Our position on settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law and damaging to renewed efforts to launch peace negotiations. As I made clear in my answer of 8 June 2020 (55878), ultimately it is the decision of an individual or company whether to operate in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The British Government is clear that it neither encourages nor offers support to such activity.

Malawi: Elections

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Government of Malawi on the free and fair conduct of the presidential election planned for 23 June 2020.

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government is supporting any international observer missions to monitor the free and fair conduct of the presidential election in Malawi planned for 23 June 2020.

James Duddridge: The UK is closely monitoring the political and security situation in Malawi ahead of fresh Presidential elections on 23 June. We have taken every opportunity to encourage all sides to respect the rule of law, follow due process under the constitution, and to respect the rulings of Malawi's courts. We have also urged de-escalation of inflammatory rhetoric and peaceful campaigning from all sides. I reiterated these messages in a phone call with Malawi's Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs on 15 May, as did the UK Chargé d'Affaires in his meeting with President Mutharika on 11 May.The risks of the Covid-19 endemic have impacted the possibility for international organisations to observe the elections, however the UK's High Commission in Lilongwe is working closely with civil society organisations engaged in electoral observation ahead of polling day to encourage due diligence in the electoral process.

Department for International Development: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) international aid organisations and (b) humanitarian and development experts were consulted by the Foreign Office as part of the decision to merge the Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

James Cleverly: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Georgia: Foreign Relations

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase British-Georgian economic co-operation.

Wendy Morton: The UK is committed to deepening its bilateral cooperation with Georgia and to growing our strong economic relationship. We do so through ongoing initiatives such as the Wardrop Strategic Dialogue and the UK's Good Governance Fund, which is supporting economic reforms and Georgia's economic recovery from COVID-19. We have recently expanded the commercial section at the British Embassy Tbilisi, which works to identify new opportunities for UK businesses and address barriers to trade where they exist. This is underpinned by the UK-Georgia Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, and in particular it's Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area element, which is expected to take effect from 1 January 2021.

Baltic States and Scandinavia: Foreign Relations

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to increase co-operation with the Baltic and Nordic states after the transition period.

Wendy Morton: As we leave the EU, we remain committed to our deep relationships with all our Nordic and Baltic Partners. We want the UK to have increasingly strong future partnerships with the Nordic and Baltic countries, and to ensure we maintain the closest possible links with our European allies. This includes for example ministerial engagement in the Northern Group and our Joint Expeditionary Force commitments which underline the importance of our cooperation.The UK has close and robust ties across the region spanning people to people links, trade and investment, security and defence, and science and innovation. We continue to work closely at the highest levels with our Nordic and Baltic partners on a range of shared interests, underpinned by common values and a mutual desire to work together for the security and prosperity of our people.

Department for International Development

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the total costs that will be incurred from the abolishing of the Department for International Development.

James Cleverly: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development are merging to form a new international department - the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. We will implement these changes in the most cost effective way possible. While we anticipate there will be cost savings in the long term as a result of using our resources more effectively and efficiently, it is not the primary goal of the merger of these two Departments. This is primarily about bringing together our international efforts so we can maximise the UK's influence around the world. By aligning our efforts, the merger will maximise our influence and expertise and ensure we are in the best position to confront the challenges that lie ahead. This will strengthen our ability to lead the world's efforts to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and allow us to seize the opportunities ahead, as we prepare to take on the G7 presidency and host COP26 next year.

Department for International Development

Department for International Development: Carers

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will place in the Library a list of the workplace benefits that her Department provides to its staff with caring responsibilities.

Nigel Adams: DFID encourages managers to take a positive, proactive approach in working together with employees to agree arrangements for caring, taking account of both caring and business needs. DFID has signed up to the Carer’s Charter and encourage managers and employees to record caring arrangements on our HR systems.In terms of workplace benefits, DFID offers:Flexible working to enable carers to combine their work and caring responsibilities. For those looking to move to working on a job share basis, we also promote use of the Civil Service job-share finder.Access to various forms of leave for those who need it over and above annual leave (either on a short or longer term basis): short term discretionary leave; long term unpaid discretionary leave; parental leave.Employee Assistance Programme: offers support for a range of scenarios. For caring, they can advise on sources of help and advice and provide counselling should people require it.To strengthen our support and learn from best practice, we have also recently signed up to Employers for Carers.

Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund: EU Trade

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund in helping countries agree trade agreements with the European Union.

Nigel Adams: The Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund (CARTFund) was launched by the UK Government in 2009 to help Caribbean countries and businesses implement and take advantage of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and support the region’s own economic integration initiative. DFID published an evaluation report in October 2015 at the end of the project, which found that it performed relatively well, particularly in relation to activities relating to the implementation of the EPA.The UK has now signed the CARIFORUM-UK EPA with 13 CARIFORUM States, providing assurance to businesses, consumers and investors on the continuity of trade arrangements at the end of the transition period. Building on the recommendations from the CARTFund evaluation, DFID continues to deliver economic development objectives in the Caribbean including the UK Trade Partnerships Programme, which will support CARIFORUM States to implement and maximise the benefits of the CARIFORUM-UK EPA.

Bangladesh: Migrant Camps

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what additional funding her Department has allocated to programmes in Cox’s Bazar Bangladesh to (a) support the covid-19 response and (b) maintain and expand gender-based violence services in response to the prevalence of that violence in those camps.

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has made to UN agencies and the Government of Bangladesh to ensure that gender-based violence (GBV) services are designated as essential in order to allow for continuity of GBV service provision in Cox’s Bazar during the covid-19 response.

Nigel Adams: The UK has provided an initial £11 million to support COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts in the Rohingya camps and surrounding host communities. This has been allocated to existing UN and Non-Governmental Organisation UK partners. It is also maintaining essential humanitarian services in the camps, such as shelter, food, registration and civil documentation, healthcare, water and sanitation, and hygiene.Part of this funding is focused on ensuring critical gender-based violence and child protection services keep operating for all those who need them. For example, the UK has provided additional funding to UNFPA for gender-based violence (GBV) services, including activities disseminating anti-GBV messaging and anti-GBV role modelling activities with adolescent boys and girls.The Rohingya Refugee response in Cox’s Bazar district has been reduced to only critical services since 8 April. While women and girls’ safe spaces are not functioning as normal (to prevent the spread of the virus), all protection services including GBV services have continued throughout. DFID officials are collaborating with UN agencies on the provision and continuity of GBV services. UN agencies have worked closely with the Bangladesh government to prepare and respond to COVID-19 in the refugee camps and ensure vital and lifesaving operations are not jeopardised.

Bangladesh: Migrant Camps

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the level of gender-based violence in Cox’s Bazar (a) before and (b) during the covid-19 pandemic; and what plans her Department has to maintain and expand provision of services to tackle gender-based violence in response to the recent International Rescue Committee research indicating at least one in four women and girls they screen have experienced GBV.

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the International Rescue Committee’s report entitled The Shadow Pandemic: Gender-Based Violence amongst Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar; and what steps she is taking to ensure funding for gender-based violence services is (a) maintained and (b) increased in Cox’s Bazar.

Nigel Adams: Gender-based violence (GBV) continues to be a constant threat in refugee camps, especially to women and girls. The scale of GBV in the Rohingya camps is too high, though still not fully known. As GBV is generally underreported due to stigma and fear, the recorded cases are likely to represent only a small fraction of the overall number. However, an information management system is ensuring vital data is collected and analysed from recorded cases.We agree with the International Rescue Committee that the international community need to expand GBV programming to address unmet needs, including prevention activities; and that these needs are likely to be exacerbated by COVID-19. The UK is the second largest donor to the Rohingya response, contributing £256 million to-date, and we play a leadership role in ensuring anti-GBV efforts are prioritised. DFID has continuously supported efforts to reduce GBV in Rohingya and also in host communities. UK aid-supported GBV activities are being implemented across 34 camps, in 35 women friendly spaces/integrated women centres, and have helped more than 12,000 individuals receive GBV case management support since 2017.The UK has provided £11 million to support COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts in the Rohingya camps and surrounding host communities. Part of this funding is focused on ensuring critical gender-based violence and child protection services keep operating for all those who need them. For example, the UK has provided an additional £400,000 to UNFPA for GBV services, including disseminating anti-GBV messaging and anti-GBV activities with adolescent boys and girls during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Department for International Development: Reorganisation

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the merger of her Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Government will implement these changes in the most cost effective way possible. While we anticipate there may be cost savings in the long term as a result of using our resources more effectively and efficiently, it is not the primary goal of the merger of these two Departments. This is primarily about bringing together our international efforts so we can maximise the UK’s influence around the world. By aligning our efforts, the merger will maximise our influence and expertise and ensure we are in the best position to confront the challenges that lie ahead. This will strengthen our ability to lead the world’s efforts to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and allow us to seize the opportunities ahead, as we prepare to take on the G7 presidency and host COP26 next year.

Department for International Development: Reorganisation

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the merger of her Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the number of staff employed by her Department.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Merging the departments will bring together the best of what we do in aid and diplomacy, and create new opportunities for staff. The ambition, vision and expertise of DFID staff will be at the heart of the new department – taking forward the work of UK aid, which will remain central to our mission. There will be no compulsory redundancies.

Department for International Development: East Kilbride

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the merger of her Department with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the number of staff employed by her Department in East Kilbride.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Merging the departments will bring together the best of what we do in aid and diplomacy, and create new opportunities for staff. There are no plans to close DFID’s office in Scotland, where staff play a vital role in ensuring UK aid delivers results for the world’s poorest and represents value for money for UK taxpayers.

Department for International Development: Reorganisation

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the merger of his Department and the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Prime Minister discussed the merger with both Secretaries of State ahead of his announcement in the House.

International Development Acts

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to (a) repeal or (b) replace the (i) International Development Act 2002, (ii) International Development Act 2006, (c) International Development Act 2014 and (d) International Development Act 2015.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Spending 0.7 percent of our national income on aid is enshrined in law. We will continue to be guided by our responsibilities under the International Development Act. The Government will undertake the necessary parliamentary process to transfer responsibilities under the International Development Act to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) food, (b) water and (c) medicines are supplied to people in Yemen.

James Cleverly: As part of our £160 million aid commitment for Yemen in the 2020/21 financial year, the UK expects to provide support to at least 300,000 vulnerable people each month to help them buy food and household essentials, treat 40,000 children for malnutrition and provide 1 million people with improved water supply and basic sanitation.Our funding will also help tackle the spread of COVID-19 in Yemen and we expect this new package to provide over 700,000 medical consultations, train 12,000 healthcare workers to work safely in a COVID-19 environment and provide a much-needed boost to nearly 4,000 health centres to continue providing existing health services.

Department for International Development: East Kilbride

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development (DFID) on employment at DFID’s office at Abercrombie House, East Kilbride.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Merging the departments will bring together the best of what we do in aid and diplomacy, and create new opportunities for staff. There are no plans to close DFID’s office in Scotland, where staff play a vital role in ensuring UK aid delivers results for the world’s poorest and value for UK taxpayers.

Overseas Aid: National Income

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to protect funding for (a) health and (b) education in the event that reductions in the aid budget are required as a result of a reduction in Gross National Income.

Wendy Morton: All government departments are working through how their plans need to change in light of the risk of a recession this year. No decision has been taken, but we are considering the full range of our work. It is absolutely in Britain’s interest to use ODA to make the world a healthier, safer and more prosperous place, either through tackling coronavirus, providing humanitarian aid in crises or helping girls get a quality education.

Schools: Females

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans her Department has to help ensure that girls are not prevented from returning to education as schools reopen following the covid-19 pandemic.

Wendy Morton: Ensuring 12 years of quality education for all girls remains a UK priority. As the effects of the COVID-19 crisis play out, the impact on girls’ education is becoming increasingly clear. The UK’s response to the pandemic aims to tackle the preventative measures to girls returning to education by mitigating short term risks by focussing on safety, nutrition, wellbeing and learning whilst schools are closed; and supporting countries to protect and maintain education budgets in the longer term.DFID is adapting its bilateral education programmes in 18 countries. The Global Partnership for Education, to which the UK is the largest donor, is flexing over £200 million to support education sector stability in response to the pandemic. The UK has also announced £20 million for UNICEF’s crisis appeal, which includes education, and a further £5 million to the Education Cannot Wait fund to support emergency education in fragile contexts.

Developing Countries: Vaccination

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to ensure that the provision of vaccines following the Global Vaccine Summit achieves the Sustainable Development Goal to leave no one behind by prioritising the poorest and most marginalised children.

Wendy Morton: The UK is proud to have raised $8.8 billion for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance at the Global Vaccine Summit on 4 June. This funding, which includes the UK’s world-leading £1.65 billion pledge, will support Gavi’s strategy to leave no one behind with immunisation over the next five years.The UK’s central priority for Gavi is equity. Gavi immunises nearly half of the world’s children, and since 2000, has increased basic immunisation coverage levels in Gavi-supported countries from 59% to 80%. Despite increases in overall immunisation coverage levels, health systems in the poorest countries are still not reaching almost one in five children with a full course of basic vaccines.These remaining pockets of under-immunised children are often the hardest to reach. The UK is working closely with Gavi to ensure that we remove barriers to immunisation for the most marginalised children. Gavi is working closely with its Alliance Partners, WHO and UNICEF, to adopt new strategies in-country to address gender, poverty, fragility and intra-country barriers to immunisation.

Overseas Aid: Coronavirus

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she is having with UN agencies to ensure that funding for the covid-19 response is allocated urgently to organisations operating at community level.

Nigel Adams: My officials continue to liaise with UN partners on all aspects of its COVID-19 response, including their work with NGOs and civil society organisations.DFID welcomes the vital role that NGOs and civil society organisations will continue to play in service delivery through multilaterals. UN agencies have undertaken a review of their existing procedures related to partnership management and issued additional internal guidance to simplify and expedite collaboration where appropriate. We will be working with the UN and DFID’s country offices.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 16 June 2020 on Global Britain, if the Department for International Development budget will be ring-fenced for use within the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The budget of the new department will combine the FCO and DFID budgets. The government remains committed to the target of spending 0.7 percent of our national income on aid, which is enshrined in law. As the Prime Minister has said and as reflected in the name of the new department, the development work of DFID will remain central to the new department’s mission.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 16 June 2020 on Global Britain, whether there will be a loss of (a) staff members and (b) expertise from the Department for International Development as a result of the merger of the Department of International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to create a new department, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Merging the departments will bring together the best of what we do in aid and diplomacy, and create new opportunities for staff. The ambition, vision and expertise of DFID staff will be at the heart of the new department – taking forward the work of UK aid, which will remain central to our mission. There will be no compulsory redundancies.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what consultation the Government undertook with (a) humanitarian and development experts and (b) leading aid organisations before the decision was made to merge the Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to create a new department, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Prime Minister has decided to merge the Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to form a new international department – the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Government will continue to engage closely with interested stakeholders, including UK and international NGOs, in the weeks and months to come as we work to create the new department, which will unite our development expertise and first-class diplomatic service to make the UK a force for good in the world.

Malawi: Elections

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is providing to civil society organisations in Malawi that promote free and fair participation in the presidential election planned for 23 June 2020.

James Duddridge: The UK, together with the US, is supporting two national civil society networks in Malawi to independently observe the election on the 23 June. Independent observation is an important contribution to free and fair elections. The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and the Public Affairs Committee, an ecumenical body, will between them deploy 500 observers across the country to observe the polls and the counting of ballot papers.The UK is also supporting the Centre for Multiparty Democracy, an association of political parties, to train political party monitors, disseminate peace messaging, and to host multi-party dialogue sessions in hotspot areas to prevent violence.

Department for International Development: Reorganisation

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what consultation her Department had with (a) international aid organisations and (b) humanitarian and development experts on the decision to merge the Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Prime Minister has decided to merge the Department for International Development with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to form a new international department – the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Government will continue to engage closely with interested stakeholders, including UK and international NGOs, in the weeks and months to come as we work to create the new department, which will unite our development expertise and first class diplomatic service to make the UK a force for good in the world.

Department for Education

GCSE: Nature Conservation

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he will introduce a natural history GCSE; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The exam board OCR has launched a consultation to gather views on what people think should be in a proposed GCSE in natural history. The Government has not made any commitment to introducing a GCSE in natural history, but we have indicated that we would consider any proposal put forward. Any such proposal would need to meet the same high standards and regulatory rules that we and the independent qualifications regulator Ofqual require from all GCSEs.

Schools: Temporary Accommodation

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of temporary classrooms used in schools  by each local authority for each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The number of temporary classrooms used in schools by each local authority is not held centrally within the Department.The Department does collect information on the condition of the school estate through the Condition Data Collection programme. This information is collected at the school building level; as it does not collect information on individual classrooms, we do not have a central record of the number of temporary classrooms used by schools.

Health Services: Students

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if final year healthcare students who worked in healthcare due to the covid-19 outbreak will have to repay their student loans for tuition fees accrued in that year.

Michelle Donelan: Healthcare students will continue to be required to repay student loans for tuition fees for the current year. Students who have opted in to paid clinical placements to support the COVID-19 response are receiving a salary and automatic NHS pension entitlement at the appropriate band. Time spent on paid placements as part of the COVID-19 response counts towards the requirement for students to complete a specified number of training hours in order to successfully complete their degrees.Student loan borrowers are only required to make repayments from the April after they have finished their course, and once they are earning over the relevant repayment threshold. The amount borrowers are required to repay each week or month is linked to their income, not the interest rate or the amount borrowed. Repayments are calculated as a fixed percentage of earnings above the repayment threshold, and any outstanding debt is written off at the end of the loan term with no detriment to the borrower.

Schools: Sanitary Protection

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department (a) has made and (b) plans to make of the effectiveness of the free sanitary products in all primary schools scheme (i) while all pupils are not attending school due to the covid-19 outbreak and (ii) over the summer holidays.

Vicky Ford: On 20 January 2020, the department launched a new scheme which makes free period products available for state-funded primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in England.This is an important step to ensure that menstruation does not present a barrier to learning and that no-one is held back from reaching their potential.We are continuing to monitor schools’ engagement with the scheme during the COVID-19 outbreak. All schools and colleges continue to be able to order period products and distribute them to learners according to their own local arrangements.

Assessments: Ethnic Groups

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with representatives from (a) Ofqual and (b) exam boards to ensure that BAME students are not disadvantaged by grade predictions.

Nick Gibb: The independent qualifications regulator, Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, has been working with awarding organisations to develop a robust process for awarding grades this year.Whilst these are matters for Ofqual, the Department has been keeping in close touch with Ofqual as it has worked up its proposals and has joined some meetings that Ofqual has held with the awarding organisations. Our shared aim is that the arrangements should deliver the fairest possible outcomes for all students, including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students.

GCE A-level and GCSE: Ethnic Groups

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that unconscious bias against BAME students in not a factor in predictive (a) GCSE and (b) A Level grades in 2020 exams.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sally Collier, to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Teachers: Universal Credit

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the universal credit taper for teachers in receipt of universal credit who receive payments under the (a) Mathematics and Physics Teacher Retention Payments Pilot scheme and (b) Teachers’ Student Loan Reimbursement Pilot scheme.

Nick Gibb: The Mathematics and Physics Teacher Retention Payments Pilot and Teachers’ Student Loan Reimbursement Pilot are designed to reward early career secondary school teachers who are teaching in certain areas of the country. We know there are particular challenges in retaining early career teachers in these areas, especially those teaching mathematics and the sciences. These pilots are testing whether offering these payments incentivises these teachers to remain in the profession.Universal Credit awards are calculated in a way that ensure fairness of treatment for all claimants. This means that as earnings increase Universal Credit is gradually reduced, which is a long-standing principle of means-tested benefits. The payments made under the two pilot schemes are treated in the same way as any other earnings. All earnings are subject to the Universal Credit taper rate and a work allowance where appropriate.

Primary Education

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that all children in year 6 have the opportunity to meet their current classmates before transitioning to secondary school.

Nick Gibb: From the week commencing 1 June 2020, primary schools have been welcoming back children in nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, alongside priority groups.The three year groups within mainstream primary - including Year 6 - have been prioritised because they are key transition years. We recognise that Year 6 children are finishing Key Stage 2 and are preparing for the transition to secondary school and will benefit immensely from time with their friends and teachers to ensure they are ready.We want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their mental wellbeing to have social interactions with their peers, carers and teachers. We are working towards bringing all children and young people back to school in September.

Primary Education: Sports

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Primary PE and Sport Premium; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The primary PE and sport premium survey, published in July 2019, assessed the impact of the doubling of the PE and sport premium to £320 million from September 2017.The findings indicated that a large majority of schools identified that, following the doubling of the premium, there had been increases in:the profile of PE and sport in supporting whole school improvement;the confidence, knowledge or of all staff in teaching PE, or both;the level of competitive sport being offered; andthe range of PE and sport being offered.The detailed findings can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/primary-pe-and-sport-premium-survey.Local Active Partnerships also conduct an annual review of a large sample of schools’ uses of their PE and sport premium, including impact, and report the results of this review to the Department.

Primary Education: Assessments

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons the results of Reception Baseline Assessments will not be shared with the school attended by the pupil until that child is about to leave primary school.

Nick Gibb: The Department has always been clear that the reception baseline assessment (RBA) is not a diagnostic assessment and should not be used to track or group individual children or hold early years settings to account. Data gathered from the assessment will only be used to create a baseline for school-level progress measures and will not be shared with schools, teachers, or parents. However, teachers will receive a series of short, narrative statements on how each child did at that time, which can be used to inform teaching.

Qualifications: Coronavirus

Ruth Cadbury: What discussions he has had with Ofqual on the arrangements for awarding GCSE, AS and A level grades for the 2019-20 academic year.

Nick Gibb: I meet the Ofqual Chief Regulator regularly as do our officials. Given the current unprecedented circumstances, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has also issued a direction to Ofqual to help shape its work in developing calculated grades for students in place of exam results, ensuring outcomes are as fair as possible.

Assessments: Coronavirus

Craig Williams: What steps his Department is taking to ensure that students due to sit exams in academic year 2019-20 will be able to progress into employment or the next stage of education.

Nick Gibb: Ofqual, the independent qualifications regulator, has put in place arrangements that will enable students to receive a grade wherever possible.The calculated grades awarded this summer will be formal grades, with the same status as grades awarded in any other year. They will therefore be accepted by all institutions.University representatives have already confirmed that they expect universities to do all they can to support students and ensure they can progress to higher education.Students who cannot get a grade or would like the opportunity to improve their grades will be able to sit exams in the autumn.

Pre-school Education: Coronavirus

Andrew Gwynne: What assessment he has made of the adequacy of financial support for early years providers during the covid-19 outbreak.

Vicky Ford: We know this is a challenging time for many businesses.I am in continual contact with early years sector organisations through regular meetings and working groups and are feeding those messages right into the heart of government.This year we plan to pay £3.6 billion into early years entitlements.We will continue to ensure that early years providers get the best possible support from the numerous government schemes.

Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus

Debbie Abrahams: What assessment he has made of the adequacy of educational support for disabled children during the covid-19 outbreak.

Vicky Ford: Every family has had challenges during this period but those families with disabled children face the greatest.We have surveyed families, schools and local authorities to monitor the situation.90% of special schools were open last week, and we have invested £10 million in the Family Fund and provided specialist online resources.

Leader of the House

Electronic Government: Petitions

Patrick Grady: To ask the Leader of the House, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward proposals to enable the Petitions Committee to schedule debates based on petitions created on websites other than the UK Parliament e-petition website.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: The Government acknowledges the important role that petitions and debates on petitions play in allowing people to scrutinise the government on their own terms. The e-petitions website is jointly owned by Parliament and Government but is overseen by the House of Commons Petitions Committee. It is for the Petitions Committee to bring forward petitions for debate under Standing Order No. 10 (1)(a) and Standing Order No. 145A.

Overseas Aid: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Leader of the House, if he will bring forward amendments to Standing Orders to create a Development Aid Oversight Committee similar to the Environmental Audit Committee to ensure Parliamentary oversight of UK aid spending.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Leader of the House, whether he has received instructions from Cabinet Colleagues to bring forward amendments to Standing Orders to create a Development Aid Oversight Committee similar to the Environmental Audit Committee to ensure Parliamentary oversight of UK aid spending.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: The Government’s view is that select committees in the House of Commons should generally mirror Government departments, though this is ultimately a matter for the House. Precise changes will be announced in due course.

House of Commons: Coronavirus

Andy McDonald: To ask the Leader of the House, what steps (a) the Government and (b) House Authorities plan to take to mitigate the higher risk to BAME (a) staff and (b) hon. Members of contracting covid-19.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: The Government is clear that the House Authorities must continue to ensure that the Estate is safe and that we must all continue to work in line with public health advice. The House Authorities have been undertaking risk assessments of various work spaces and are in direct contact with Public Health England (PHE) on any specific concerns. PHE also published its review at the beginning of June to help us understand how Covid-19 may affect different ethnic groups. The Equalities Minister is taking forward further work following the PHE Review so that we can better understand the disparities. The Government continues to advise members of the parliamentary community, such as Members’ staff and most House staff, to continue to work from home where they can. I would like to commend the House Authorities for their work in ensuring that the Parliamentary Estate is a Covid-19 secure workplace, and I have every confidence in their efforts to make sure House staff at increased risk of contracting coronavirus are suitably protected.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Imports: Israel

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the import of (a) fresh fruit, (b) vegetables and (c) dairy products, from Israel, whether HMRC accepts Israeli certificates of conformity with marketing standards (i) where the place of origin is within the internationally recognised borders of Israel and (ii) where goods originate from settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Victoria Prentis: Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs take steps to exclude the possibility that goods of West Bank origin enter the United Kingdom incorrectly described as being Israeli. This is to prevent them benefitting from preferential tariffs in accordance with the terms of EU-Israel Association Agreement and the technical arrangements which flow from this. EU rules do not allow the authorities in any exporting third country (such as the State of Israel) to issue valid certificates of conformity with EU marketing standards for fruit and vegetables originating outside that third country. This includes territories under Israeli administration since June 1967, for example, the West Bank. The situation referred to by the hon. Member in respect of imports originating in Israeli settlements on the West Bank cannot, therefore, arise. EU rules allow third countries to issue a certificate of conformity, confirming compliance with marketing standards. However, that does not mean that every import consignment will be accompanied by such a document. Importers can also apply for a certificate directly from an EU Member State’s authority. For dairy products, certificates of conformity with marketing standards are not required regardless of the origin of imports. The EU marketing standards legislation will form part of UK statute and will continue to apply in the UK after the transition period.

Food: Standards

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that Britain retains high quality food standards when the transition period concludes.

Victoria Prentis: The UK Government will not compromise on our standards. Our manifesto is clear that in all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards. We remain firmly committed to upholding our high environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards outside the EU. The EU Withdrawal Act will transfer all existing EU food safety provisions, including existing import requirements, onto the UK statute book. The UK’s food standards, for both domestic production and imports, are overseen by the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland. These are agencies that provide independent advice to the UK and Scottish Governments. They will continue to do so in order to ensure that all food imports comply with the UK’s high safety standards. Decisions on these standards are a matter for the UK and will be made separately from any trade agreement. The Government has committed to a serious and rapid examination of what could be done through labelling in the UK market to promote high standards and high welfare goods. The Government is also prepared to consult, as I reiterated at the despatch box. Any scheme could not be devised until we have competed the transition period and would need to recognise World Trade Organization obligations.

Food: Standards

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for International Trade and (b) other Cabinet colleagues on the establishment of a commission to ensure that British food standards are not lowered in the context of future free trade agreements struck after 31 December 2020.

Victoria Prentis: Our manifesto is clear that in all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards. We are already engaging with the agricultural sector as part of our trade discussions. The Secretary of State regularly discusses a wide range of issues with Cabinet colleagues, and the Government will continue to work closely with the National Farmers' Union and other relevant stakeholders across the food chain to understand the key concerns about the impact of new trade deals. The Government has in place a range of stakeholder groups to feed into our policy development on trade. These include the Strategic Trade Advisory Group, the Agri-Food Expert Trade Advisory Group which are subject to regular review, and the various engagement groups such as the Arable Group, Livestock Group and Food and Drink Panel.

Agriculture: Land Use

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate his Department has made of the total area of farmland (a) in the UK and (b) abroad used to grow (i) fruit and vegetables for UK consumption, (ii) animal feed crops for UK use and (iii) bioenergy crops for UK use; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Prentis: The latest available areas of crops grown in the UK are in the table below. We do not collect any information on the end use of the crops so we are unable to quantify how much of this area is used for UK consumption. Similarly, we have no information on the areas grown abroad that are used for UK consumption (trade data is only based on volumes). YearCropArea (thousand hectares)2019Fruit and vegetables1492019Animal feed crops(1)4122018Bioenergy crops94 Source: June 2019 Agricultural and Horticultural Survey, United Kingdom. Department for Transport Renewable Fuels Transport Obligation data. Notes: (1) Animal feed crops include forage maize (England only), field beans and peas for harvesting dry, root crops, brassicas, fodder beet and all other crops for stockfeeding. Cereals are excluded as we are unable to split between animal feed and human uses.

Animal Products: Trade

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made by the Government on bringing forward legislative proposals to ban the import and export of hunting trophies.

Victoria Prentis: The Government takes the conservation of endangered species seriously and committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from endangered species in our manifesto. A consultation on controls on the import and export of hunting trophies to and from the UK was undertaken between 2 November 2019 and 25 February 2020. The outcome of the consultation and the accompanying call for evidence will inform our next steps. We are continuing to work on this important area and will publish the Government response as soon as it is practical to do so.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Carers

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will place in the Library a list of the workplace benefits that his Department provides to its staff with caring responsibilities.

Victoria Prentis: In Defra we follow the Civil Service Carers Charter, which details the support available for employees who have caring responsibilities and helps managers understand how they can support carers in the workplace. This includes support such as flexible working, job sharing, special leave (paid and unpaid), career breaks and parental leave. Defra has a carer’s passport which is used to help employees discuss caring responsibilities, at present or in the future, with their line manager. Other support for employees who are carers is available from our Employee Assistance Programme offering independent advice, information and counselling from trained practitioners. Defra is also a member of Employers for Carers, the employers’ membership forum which is part of Carers UK. Defra has an active employee-led Carers Network providing information, advice and support to all employees. It is the intention to place the relevant documents in the Library.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Energy

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much energy his departmental buildings have used in (a) each of the last five years and (b) 2020 to date.

Victoria Prentis: The amounts of energy used by Defra Group on the estates that it manages in the last five years are included in an attachment. This data has been taken from our annual report and accounts over the previous four years, with the 2019-20 data to be published shortly. This includes energy use in both the office and the operational estates.



Table attachment of ARA data for PQ 59351, 19-21
(PDF Document, 123.17 KB)

Dairy Farming: Coronavirus

Chris Loder: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farmers have received support from the Coronavirus Hardship Fund for Dairy Farmers.

Victoria Prentis: The new dairy response fund opened for applications on 18 June 2020. Full details of the application process can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/dairy-response-fund-2020. The funding will provide eligible dairy farmers in England with up to £10,000. Payments will commence from 6 July 2020. The scheme will help those dairy farmers most in need of support to sustain their businesses by maintaining production capacity without impacts on animal welfare.

Total Allowable Catches

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to remove Total Allowable Catch limits from particular stocks.

Victoria Prentis: We have no plans to remove total allowable catch limits. Any decision to remove a stock from management by setting a total allowable catch would need to be guided by robust scientific evidence. Scientific advice for 2020 for most stocks in the North East Atlantic will be published by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea on 30 June.

Agriculture: Northern Ireland

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the participation of Northern Ireland in the Pick For Britain recruitment plan.

Victoria Prentis: Defra discussed with officials at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) regarding the plans for the Pick for Britain website and their thoughts on a future public facing campaign, to attract more seasonal workers from the UK. The feedback received was that DAERA was working closely with industry representatives in Northern Ireland and would use the existing Department for Communities website – JobCentre Online (JCOL) to advertise local opportunities. The website also provided a link to the Pick for Britain initiative. We continue to work with Devolved Administrations and hold regular meetings in order to understand the labour needs and specific issues they may be facing.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Government plans to publish its plan to reduce air pollution on the Strategic Road Network to within legal limits; and whether that  plan will include Highways England’s recently approved Road Investment Strategy 2.

Rebecca Pow: The Government’s UK Plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations was published in July 2017 and detailed the approach that would be taken forward by Highways England in order to deliver compliance on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) in the shortest possible time. Since the publication of the 2017 Plan, the Government has been working closely with Highways England (HE) on the delivery of their air quality programme of work. Some measures to tackle illegal roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations have already been implemented on the SRN by HE. The second Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) also refers to HE bringing road links on the SRN into compliance with legal nitrogen dioxide limits in the shortest possible time.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many of each type of air quality monitors Highways England have put into operation along the Strategic Road Network; whether the pollution concentrations at each monitoring location have been published by Highways England.

Rebecca Pow: Highways England (HE) currently has 74 air quality monitoring stations alongside the Strategic Road Network. 57 of these are part of its National Air Quality Monitoring Network. The type and number of stations is set out in the table below. Type of air quality monitoring station*NumberMCERTS nitrogen oxide chemiluminescent analyser61MCERTS ozone analyser11MCERTS Beta Attenuation Mass Measuring particulate analyser2*MCERTS (Monitoring Certification Scheme) is the Environment Agency’s Monitoring Certification Scheme. HE annual site monitoring reports have not been published; however, information from the reports has been provided on request. HE has annual monitoring reports for the number of sites set out in the table below. Year**Number of sites for which annual monitoring reports are held201615201731201843201957 (in draft)**2016 is the first year of data for the first monitoring sites installed.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's document entitled, Farming for the Future - Policy and progress update, published in February 2020, what estimate his Department has made of the number of Direct Payments that will be subject to the 25 per cent reduction in 2021.

Victoria Prentis: Our Farming for the Future policy statement, published in February 2020, sets out the maximum reductions that will apply to Direct Payments for 2021. This includes a maximum reduction of 25% for the portion of the payment which exceeds £150,000. Based on 2018 data, we estimate that around 1,000 farmers will fall into this category. No farmers will receive an overall reduction of 25%.

Air Pollution: North West

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to ensure that air quality levels in (a) Wallasey and (b) the North West remain lower than they were prior to the covid-19 outbreak.

Rebecca Pow: Our ambitious plans to improve air quality and support more active forms of travel have not changed, including the £3.8 billion we are already investing to clean up our air. Our recent rapid call for evidence will ensure we can fully understand the impact that coronavirus is having on changes to air pollution emissions, concentrations and exposure. On 9 May, the Government announced a £2 billion funding package for cycling and walking: the largest ever investment in active travel. This includes £250 million to be spent in the current financial year on measures to get people cycling and walking, such as pop-up bike lanes, wider pavements, safer junctions, and cycle and bus-only corridors and a bike repair voucher scheme. Local authorities already have a range of powers to take action to reduce pollution from road vehicles. Through the Environment Bill we are improving co-operation within the Local Air Quality Management framework to widen the range of bodies that play a role in improving local air quality, including neighbouring local authorities and relevant public bodies, ensuring action is taken by all key players to tackle pollution sources and to improve air quality locally. Additionally we are working hard to implement our world-leading Clean Air Strategy, which focuses on reducing broader emissions beyond road transport.

Poultry: Imports

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the top five countries were for chicken imports to the UK in each of the last five years.

Victoria Prentis: The attached table shows the top five countries importing chicken meat into the UK in the last five years. It is based on Defra analysis of HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics.  



Table of chicken imports over the last 5 years
(PDF Document, 108.42 KB)

Aquaculture: Coronavirus

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has, after the covid-19 restrictions are lifted to encourage the development and expansion of the UK's aquaculture industry with regard to shellfish production; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Prentis: Defra supports industry led growth in aquaculture. We are actively involved in developing the English Aquaculture Growth Strategy through the Aquaculture Leadership Group set up by Seafish under the Seafood 2040 strategic framework. The strategy, to be published this autumn, will include growth targets and a short to long-term delivery plan. Recognising the adverse impact of Covid-19 on the aquaculture sector as export and domestic markets have fallen away, Defra has provided some £725,000 to 79 aquaculture businesses as part of the Fisheries Response Fund.

Wales Office

Hospitality Industry and Tourism: Wales

Gerald Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether the Government plans to provide additional support to the hospitality and tourism industry in Wales via the Welsh Government during the recovery from the covid-19 outbreak.

Simon Hart: I have regular discussions with the Welsh Government on how best to reopen the hospitality and tourism sector in Wales to make the most of the summer season, whilst respecting social distancing. Helping the sector to reopen will allow the industry to start rebuilding. Through the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), the UK Government has supported over 400,000 jobs in Wales. Over £2.3bn in Barnett consequential funding has been allocated to date to the Welsh Government to support its response to the virus. This demonstrates the value to Wales of being part of the United Kingdom. Using the scientific advice available, the UK Government has set out a clear plan on how we will rebuild the UK for a world with Covid-19 whilst respecting devolved decision-making. Subject to scientific advice, next month will see the partial reopening of some of the tourism and hospitality sector in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. I welcome the Welsh Government’s plans for a partial reopening of the sector in July. However, given its importance to the Welsh economy, with over 9.5% of the workforce directly employed in the visitor economy and over £6 billion in visitor spending in 2018, I would urge the Welsh Government to do more to ensure that Wales is not left behind the rest of the UK.

Ministry of Justice

Prison Accommodation: Construction

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the average cost to the public purse per unit of the (a) construction or conversion, (b) delivery and deployment on site and (c) maintenance of temporary accommodation cells in England and Wales (i) monthly and (ii) over the expected timespan of cell usage; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of (A) security and support from prison staff for that accommodation (1) monthly and (2) over the expected timespan of cell usage and (B) other costs relating to those cells.

Lucy Frazer: The Government acted quickly to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in prisons by implementing restricted regimes to comply with national social distancing guidance and limiting inter-prisons transfers. Prisons are also implementing a ‘compartmentalisation’ strategy to isolate the sick, shield the vulnerable and quarantine new arrivals. Latest public health advice suggests these measures have limited the spread of the virus and minimised the number of deaths.HMPPS has deployed temporary accommodation units across some parts of the prison estate to provide additional accommodation to support us in rolling out our compartmentalisation measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. Temporary accommodation is not being used to increase the operational capacity at each site. The measures allow us to isolate prisoners with symptoms, shield the vulnerable and to quarantine new arrivals.There have been no direct construction or conversion costs for temporary accommodation units. We have, however, hired and purchased units. The total spend on hire and purchase costs (including delivery) at end May 2020 was £3.58m, inclusive of VAT. The overall spend as of the end of May was £4.25m. It is not yet possible to provide the average cost for the delivery and deployment on site, as the installation of all the units is still underway. The total spend on installation costs at end May 2020 was £675k, inclusive of VAT. Installation costs vary according to location and the type of unit being installed.To date, we have not incurred any maintenance costs for the temporary accommodation cells we have purchased. There are no ongoing maintenance costs involved in units that are hired, however, there are costs associated with restitution and making good once each unit is returned at the end of the hire period.At some establishments additional security measures, such as additional CCTV and provision of staff offices, have been installed. Where appropriate this has been funded centrally and is reflected in the installation total costs set out above. Some establishments have made further additions which have been absorbed through local budgets or within existing maintenance arrangements. Locally agreed staffing plans are also in place to reflect the needs of each establishment to effectively manage the use of the temporary units, which are funded from existing establishment budgets.Other than installation costs, there are no centrally managed additional costs or uplifts for the management or security of this accommodation, or recurring costs, as the temporary cells have been deployed in the context of an emergency management plan.Whilst we continue with the current plan, there is no projection that costs will change. Should prisons move to new regime arrangements, however, local changes will be needed that could have impact on ongoing and recurring costs. We will nonetheless always seek to gain the best possible value for the taxpayer.

Domestic Violence: Legal Aid Scheme

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the review into means testing of legal aid for victims of domestic violence will conclude; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capital threshold for means testing legal aid for domestic violence victims; and if he will make a statement.

Alex Chalk: Victims of domestic abuse must have access to the help they need - including legal aid, which is subject to a means and merits test. Our comprehensive review of the legal aid means test commenced in February 2019. The review is considering how the current arrangements adequately protect access to justice, and as part of this we have explicitly committed to look at means testing for victims of domestic abuse, including the existing capital thresholds.Whilst the Government had previously committed to complete the review by Summer 2020, and to mark this with publication of a consultation paper, the impact of the Covid-19 crisis has meant this work has been temporarily paused and a revised timetable for delivery of the review will be announced shortly.

Domestic Violence: Legal Aid Scheme

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications have been (a) granted and (b) rejected for legal aid from victims of domestic violence in each of the last five years.

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of legal aid applications made by victims of domestic violence have been rejected as a result of capital threshold means testing in each of the last five years.

Alex Chalk: The information requested is not held centrally.

Lewes Prison: Standards

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report of the Independent Monitoring Report published in June 2020, if he will provide the financial and other resources required to improve the accommodation at HMP Lewes to a decent standard.

Lucy Frazer: HMPPS and the Governor of HMP Lewes are committed to making improvements to accommodation standards at the prison.At HMP Lewes, around £188,000 has been allocated to the plastering of cells in the healthcare wing and around £150,000 has been committed for shower refurbishments on A and K wings levels two and three.As was noted in the Independent Monitoring Board report improvements have already been made to the decoration of cells, doors, railings and walls. This was considered to be ‘a very considerable improvement’ by the Board.In addition, trained prisoners now work on every residential unit to keep landings decorated, and to repaint vacant cells or those cells highlighted as requiring improvements.To tackle cleanliness issues the use of cleaning products has been reviewed, and additional items such as descaling agent, steam cleaners, pressure washers and wet-vacs been ordered to for use in landings, cells, serveries and showers. Significant efforts are being made across all residential units during 2019, including the introduction of daily cleanliness checks by the Heads of Residence and decency checks carried out by the whole Senior Leadership Team, with a focus on décor, graffiti, cleanliness, equipment and facilities. Funds have been allocated for the deep clean completed in December 2019 to be repeated annually.Cleanliness remains a particularly key focus in responding to the Covid-19 outbreak, but is limited due to social distancing requirements. Serveries and showers are cleaned before and after use to minimise the spread of infection, and all door handles, handrails, and commonly touched areas are cleaned throughout the day.In regard to the Board’s comments on damage to cells or lack of prisoner equipment, any issues are logged and reported to the facilities management provider and repairs are tracked. These are reported to the Governor and senior managers on a daily basis. This includes issues with a lack of furniture, and orders are placed regularly to try to maintain sufficient stock levels to deal with damage or wear and tear to in-cell furniture.

Family Courts: Opening Hours

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many hearings proceeded in the family Flexible Operating Hours pilot scheme.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many legal professionals with caring responsibilities participated in the civil and family Flexible Operating Hours pilot scheme, by (a) sex, (b) jurisdiction and (c) location.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many litigants in person with caring responsibilities took part in the Flexible Operating Hours pilot scheme for civil and family courts, broken down by sex, jurisdiction and location.

Chris Philp: 40 family cases were heard at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre during the Flexible Operating Hours pilots.HMCTS has appointed a consortium of IFF Research and Frontier Economics to carry out an independent evaluation of the Flexible Operating Hours pilots at Manchester Civil Justice Centre and the County Court at Brentford. The evaluation is being conducted as set out in the evaluation plan, published July 2019: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flexible-operating-hours-evaluation-plan-and-summary.Data has been collected on the number of cases heard in Flexible Operating Hours sessions rather than on numbers of participants. Legal professionals, including those who participated in the pilots and those who opted out, were contacted to take part in in-depth research interviews. Public user surveys distributed to all participants in FOH sessions contained 19 optional questions related to equality and diversity, including questions on caring responsibilities. Data was also collected on reasons for opting out of FOH sessions by way of surveys that included the same equality and diversity questions and by interviews. Analysis of data on legal professionals and litigants in person with caring responsibilities who participated in the pilots in Brentford and Manchester will be included in the independent evaluation report.

Administration of Justice: Equality

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking in response to the publication of the Equality and Human Rights Commission's report entitled Inclusive Justice, published on 22 April 2020, and if he will make a statement.

Chris Philp: The government welcomes the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report, Inclusive Justice, the interim findings of which were published on 22 April, and the full report on 11 June 2020. The recommendations made in the report are being carefully considered.

Cabinet Office

Industrial Diseases: Death Certificates

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many death certificates refer to industrial disease in (a) each year since 2010, (b) March and April 2019, and (c) March and April 2020.

Chloe Smith: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 12 May 2020.The correct answer should have been:

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond. A copy of the UKSA response has been placed in the library of the House. 



UKSA Holding Response
(PDF Document, 59.39 KB)

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond. A copy of the UKSA response has been placed in the library of the House. 



UKSA Holding Response
(PDF Document, 59.39 KB)

Official Residences: Energy Performance Certificates

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Energy Performance Certificate rating was in each official Ministerial residence, in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017, (d) 2018, (e) 2019 and (f) 2020.

Chloe Smith: This information is available on the website of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and, https://www.ndepcregister.com/reportSearchAddressSelectAddress.html?id=196809993823dc3ff0591fb2f90d96fd and, https://www.ndepcregister.com/reportSearchAddressListAddresses.html?id=db2f9613e6cf3d07ab140dd8a34870ef.

Prime Minister: Energy

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much energy the Prime Minister's departmental buildings have used in (a) each of the last five years and (b) 2020 to date.

Sir Edward Davey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much energy his departmental buildings have used in (a) each of the last five years and (b) 2020 to date.

Chloe Smith: The information requested is published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts, the latest edition of which is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/819251/CO-ARA-2018-19-Final.pdf

Public Sector: Recruitment

Andrew Selous: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government (a) practices and (b) encourages the public sector to practice name blind recruitment; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: 'Anonymised' recruitment (where candidates' personal details are removed from the application form prior to shortlisting) is considered the "default" for external Civil Service recruitment.

Electronic Government

John Spellar: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to prevent individuals seeking information from Government Departments being diverted to fee-charging websites.

Chloe Smith: Government Departments have processes in place to ensure users seeking information from Government Departments are not diverted to fee-charging or misleading websites.We work to ensure that government information and services are correctly listed and rank highly in search engine results so that they are easy for people to find and identify as government information and services.We also challenge sites that pay for prominent positioning in search returns, by reporting them to the relevant search provider.If fee-charging websites are operating outside of legal boundaries, we will pursue site owners through trading standards bodies or legal challenge.GOV.UK is the government's website and online brand. We take steps to ensure people can rely on it as a trusted source for information.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many independent, regulated newspapers have not been selected to be included in the All in, all together advertising campaign.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2020 to Question 45460 on Coronavirus: Disease Control, if his Department will list which newspapers are included in the All in, all together advertising campaign.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether newspapers whose owners do not pay tax in the UK are receiving payments for services relating to the Government's All in, all together advertising campaign.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason more local and independent newspapers were not used as part of the All in, all together advertising campaign.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to ensure that only newspapers who engage in independent regulation benefit from the All in, all together advertising campaign.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department made of the (a) size and (b) profitability of newspaper publications when deciding which should be the beneficiaries of the All in, all together advertising campaign.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department made of the wealth of newspaper owners prior to their publications receiving state money from the All in this Together advertising campaign.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Hon. member to the answer given to PQ 46692 given on 29 May 2020.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Justin Madders: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to Answer of 16 June to Question 54932, whether all articles published in the All together advertising campaign are compliant with the Government Communication Service Propriety Guidance.

Chloe Smith: It is vital that we provide public information to citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government has negotiated a new and unique partnership with national and local newspapers to use their powerful, familiar voices as part of the All In, All Together campaign.The partnership involves a combination of traditional advertising and sponsored content. This content is produced by participating newspapers and the Government has no editorial sign-off.

Conservative Party: Finance

Steve Reed: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a list all meetings he has had with donors to the Conservative Party since he became Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Chloe Smith: Ministers publish details of their government meetings with external individuals and organisations on GOV.UK.The Government does not collate details of whether such individuals or organisations have made donations to any political party in the past.This would not be a material consideration in deciding whether to hold any meeting, nor with the topics discussed.

Protective Clothing: Coronavirus

Helen Hayes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what checks on standards are carried out before suppliers are listed in the Crown Commercial Service’s COVID-19: Catalogue of supplier offers.

Chloe Smith: Details of the Covid-19 catalogue are published here:https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/covid-19/covid-19-buyer-information/catalogue-of-supplier-offers/

Contact Tracing: Computer Software

Helen Hayes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether a Government Digital Service peer review of the contact tracing app has been completed.

Chloe Smith: The Government is committed to ensuring that public services, including digital services, continue to be delivered to the highest standards.In line with this commitment, peer reviews are conducted to ensure such services are secure, resilient, accessible and able to evolve to meet citizens’ needs.

House of Commons Commission

Parliament: Coronavirus

Andy McDonald: To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the House has in accordance with Regulation 9(b) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 kept records of every case of a staff member and MP who has contracted covid-19 in Parliament and reported them to the Health and Safety Executive; and whether all breaches of the regulations and of Government guidance in Parliament have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive and/or relevant officer of Westminster City Council.

Pete Wishart: There have been no reports of any covid-19 related incident which would require reporting under Regulation 9(b) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.If there is reason to believe that a causal occupational link has been established in relation to any person who develops covid-19 in connection with work on the parliamentary estate, the incident will be reported as per legislation and appropriate records maintained.All reported accidents, incidents or work-related ill health where the Clerk of the House is a duty holder are reported to the Health and Safety Executive as required by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

House of Commons: Coronavirus

Andy McDonald: To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will publish the covid-19 risk assessment of Parliament undertaken by the House authorities with Public Health England before Parliament reconvened on 2 June 2020.

Pete Wishart: The risk assessment was published on 28th May and can be accessed at the following link on the UK Parliament transparency pages.

House of Commons: Coronavirus

Andy McDonald: To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans the Commission has to (a) test and (b) trace the contacts of (i) staff and (ii) hon. Members in the event that a member of staff or hon. Member contracts covid-19.

Pete Wishart: Responsibility for and access to testing and tracing is a matter for the Department of Health and Social Care and the relevant public health body.The House of Commons Commission continues to work closely with the public health agencies and has put in place arrangements to support any requests made by these agencies as part of the contracting tracing process.